A SON OF THE FOREST. 



i 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



THE 

EXPERIENCE 

OP 

WILLIAM APES, 

A 

NATIVE OF THE FOREST, 



WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 

Second Edition, Revised and Corrected, 
NEW-YORK : 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 

G. JF\ Bunce> Printer. 

1831. 



K 



Southern Districts of New«Yo*k, ss, 
t q D E IT REMEMBERED, That on the mm* 
" J3 ty-fifth day of July, A. D. 1829, in the fifty- 
lird year of the Independence of the United States of 
. Imerica, William Apes of the said District, hath depo- 
sited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof 
he claims as author, in the words following, to wit : 

"A Son of the Forest. The experience of William 
Apes, a Native of the Forest. Written by himself. 

In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United 
States, entitled 44 An Act for the encouragement of 
Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and 
Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies^ 
during the time therein mentioned.' 5 And also to an 
Act, entitled " An Act, supplementary to an Act, enUi- 
tled an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by se- 
curing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the 
authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times 
therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to 
the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical 
arvd other prints.'' 

FRED. J. BETTS, 

Clerk of the Southern District of New-York. 



PREFACE, 



In offering to the public, a second edition 
of this work, the Author cannot but testify 
his gratitude for the liberal patronage bestow- 
ed upon the first edition — notwithstanding 
the many disadvantages under which it ap- 
peared. The present edition is greatly im- 
proved; as well in the printing, as in the 
arrangement of the work, and the style in 
which it is written, The first edition, was 
hurried through the press, in consequence of 
which, many inaccuracies occur 

It has been carefully revised, aose parts 
which some persons deemed objectionable, 
have been stricken out ; and in its improved 
form, it is now submitted to the public, with 
the earnest prayer of the author, that it may 
be rendered a lasting blessing to every one 
who may give it even a cursory perusal. 



1* 



A SON OF THE FOREST, 



CHAPTER L 

William Apes, the author of the follow- 
ing narrative, was born in the town of^Cole- 
reign, Massachusetts, on the thirty-first of 
January, in the year of our Lord seventeen 
hundred and ninety-eight. My grandfather 
was a white man, and married a female at- 
tached to the royal family of Philip, king 
of the Pequod tribe of Indians, so well known 
in that part of American history, which relates 
to the wars between the whites and the na- 
tives. My grandmother was, if I am not 
misinformed, the king's granddaughter, and 
a lair and beautiful woman. This statement 
is given not with a view of appearing great, 
in the estimation of others — what I would ask, 
is royal blood— the blood of a king is no 
better than that of the subject— we are in 
fact but one family ; we are all the descend- 
ants of one great progenitor — Adam. 1 
would not boast of my extraction, as I con- 
sider myself nothing more than a worm of th( 
earth. 

I have given the above account of my origin 



s 



A SON OP THE FOREST. 



with the simple view of narrating the truth as 
I have received it ; and under the settled con- 
viction that I must render an account at the 
last day, to the sovereign Judge of all men, 
for every word contained in this little book. 

As the story of King Philip, is perhaps 
generally known, and consequently the histo- 
ry of the Pequod tribe, over whom he reigned ; 
it will suffice to say, that he was overcome by 
treachery, and the goodly heritage occupied 
by this once happy, powerful, yet peaceful 
people, was possessed in the process of time, 
by their avowed enemies the whites, who had 
been welcomed to their land in that spirit of 
kindness, so peculiar to the red-men of the 
woods. But the violation of their inherent 
rights, by those to whom they had extended 
the hand of friendship, was not the only act 
of injustice which this oppressed and afflicted 
nation, was called to suffer at the hands of 
their white neighbours — alas ! they were sub- 
ject to a more intense and heart-corroding 
affliction, that of having their daughters clai- 
med by the conquerers, and however much 
subsequent efforts were made to sooth their 
sorrows, in this particular, they considered 
the glory of their nation as having departed. 
( See Appendix.) 

From what I have already stated, it will 
appear that my father was of mixed blood ; 
his father being a white man, and his mother 



A SON OF THE FOREST. & 

a native, or in other words, a red woman.— 
On attaining a sufficient age to act for himself, 
he joined the Pequod tribe, to which he was 
maternally connected. He was well received, 
and in a short time afterwards, married a fe- 
male of the tribe, in whose veins a single drop 
of the white man's blood never flowed. Not 
long after his marriage, he removed to what 
was then called the back settlements, direct- 
ing his course first to the west, and after- 
wards to the north-east, where he pitched 
his tent in the woods of a town called Col- 
reign, near the Connecticut river, in the state 
of Massachusetts. In this, the place of my 
birth, he continued some time, and afterwards 
removed to Colchester, New-London county, 
Connecticut. At the latter place, our little 
family lived for nearly three years in compa- 
rative comfort. 

Circumstances however changed with u^% 
as with many other people, in consequence of 
which, I was taken together with my two 
brothers and sisters into my grandfather's 
family.— One of my uncles dwelt in the same 
hut. Now my grand parents, were not the 
best people in the world — like all others, who 
are wedded to the beastly vice of intemperance, 
they would drink to excess whenever they 
could procure rum, and as usual in such cases ? 
when under the influence of liquor, they 
would not only quarrel and fight with each 
other, but would at times, turn upon their 



10 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

unoffending grand children, and beat them 
in a most cruel manner. It makes me shudder 
even at this this time, to think how frequent, 
and how great have been our sufferings in 
consequence of the introduction of this "cur- 
sed stuff" into our family — and I could wish, 
in the sincerity of my soul, that it were ban- 
ished from our land. 

Our fare was of the poorest kind, and even 
of this we had not enough — our clothing 
also was of the worst description : literally 
speaking, we were clothed with rags, so far 
only as rags would suffice to cover our naked- 
ness. We were always contented and happy 
to get a cold potatoe for our dinner — of this 
at times we were denied, and many a night 
have we gone supperless to rest, if stretching 
our limbs on a bundle of straw, without any 
covering against the weather, may be called 
rest. Truly we were in a most deplorable 
condition. Too young to obtain subsistence 
for ourselves, by the labour of our hands, and 
our wants almost totally disregarded by those 
who should have made every exertion to 
supply them. Some of our white neighbours 
however took pity on us, and measurably ad- 
ministered to our wants, by bringing us fro- 
zen milk, with which we were glad to satisfy 
the calk of hunger. We lived in this way 
for some time, suffering both from cold and 
hunger* Once in particular, I remember 



A SON OF THE FOREST. H 

that when it rained very hard, my grandmo- 
ther put us all down cellar, and when we 
complained of cold and hunger, she unfeel- 
ingly bid us dance and thereby warm our- 
selves—but we had no food of any kind ; and 
one of my sisters, almost died of hunger.— 
Poor dear girl she was quite overcome. — 
Young as I was, my very heart bled for her. 
I merely relate this circumstance, without any 
embellishment or exaggeration, to show the 
reader how we were treated. The intensity 
of our sufferings I cannot tell. Happily we 
did not continue in this very deplorable 
condition for a great length of time. _ Pro- 
vidence smiled on us, but in a particular 
manner. 

Our parents quarrelled, parted and went 
off to a great distance, leaving their helpless 
children to the care of their grand parents. 
We lived at this time in an old house, divi- 
ded into two apartments— one of which was 
occupied by my uncle. Shortly after my fa- 
ther left us, my grandmother, who had been 
out among the whites, returned in a state of 
intoxication, and without any provocation 
whatever on my part, began to belabour 
me most unmercifully with a club ; she asked 
me if I hated her, and I very innocently an- 
swered in the affirmative as I did not then 
know what the word meant, and thought all 
the while that I was answering aright; and 
so she continued asking m the same ques- 



IS 



A SOS OF THE FOREST. 



lion, and I as often answered her in the same 
way, whereupon she continued beating me, 
by which means one of my arms was broken 
in three different places. I was then only 
four years of age, and consequently could 
not take care of, or defend myself — and I was 
equally unable to seek safety in flight. But 
my uncle who lived in the other part of the 
house, being alarmed for my safety, came 
down to take me away, when my grandfather 
made towards him with a fire-brand, but very 
fortunately he succeeded in rescuing me, and 
thus saved my life, for had he not come at the 
time he did, I would most certainly have been 
killed. My grand parents who acted in this 
mifeeling and cruel manner, were by my mo- 
ther's side — those by my father's side, were 
christians, lived and died happy in the love 
of God; and if I continue faithful in impro- 
ving that measure of grace, with which God 
hath blessed me, I expect to meet them in a 
world of immingled and ceaseless joys. But 
to return : — 

The next morning when it was discovered 
that I had been most dangerously injured, 
my uncle determined to make the whites ac- 
quainted with my condition. He accord- 
ingly went to a Mr. Furman, the person 
who had occasionally furnished us with milk, 
and the good man came immediately to se<| 
me. He found noe dreadftilly beaten, and 



A SGX OF THE FOREST » Pf 

me other children in a state of absolute suf- 
fering ; and as he was extremely anxious that 
something should he done for our relief, he 
applied to the selectmen of the town in our 
behalf, who after duly considering the ap- 
plication, adjudged that we should be sev- 
erally taken and bound out. Being en- 
tirely disabled in consequence of the wounds 
I had received, I was supported at the ex- 
pense of the town for about twelvemonths. 

When the selectmen were called in, they 
ordered me to be carried to Mr. Furman's— 
where I received the attention of two sur- 
geons. Some considerable time elapsed be- 
fore my arm was set, which was consequent- 
ly very sore, and during this painful opera- 
tion I scarcely murmured. Now this dear 
man and family were sad on my account. 
Mrs. Furman was a kind, benevolent and 
tender hearted lady— from her I received 
the best possible care : had it been other- 
wise I believe that I could not have lived. 
It pleased God however to support me/ 
The great patience that I manifested I ■ at- 
tribute mainly to my improved situation. 
Before, I was almost always naked, or cold, 
or hungry— now, I was comfortable with 
the exception of my wounds. 

In view of this treatment, I presume that 
the reader will exclaim, " what savages 
your grand parents were to treat unoflend- 



14 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



ing, helpkss children in this cruel manner. 5 ' 
But this cruel and unnatural conduct was 
the effect of some cause. I attribute it in a 
great measure to the whites, inasmuch as 
they introduced among my coutrymen, that 
bane of comfort and happiness, ardent spir- 
its—seduced them into a love of it, and when 
under its unhappy influence, wronged 
them out of their lawful possessions — that 
land, where reposed the ashes of their sires; 
and not only so, but they committed violence 
of the most revolting kind upon the persons 
of the female portion of the tribe, who pre- 
vious to the introduction among them of the 
arts, and vices, and debaucheries of the 
whites, were as unoffending and happy as 
they roamed over their goodly possessions, 
as any people on whom the sun of heaven 
ever shown. The consequence was, that they 
were scattered abroad. Now many of them 
were seen reeling about intoxicated with 
liquor, neglecting to provide for themselves 
and families, who before were assiduously 
engaged in supplying the necessities of those 
depending on them for support. I do not 
make this statement in order to justify thosfc 
who had treated me so unkindly, but simply 
to shew, that inasmuch as I was thus treated 
only when they were under the influence of 
spiritous liquor, that the whites were justly 
chargeable with at least some portion of my 
sufferings. 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



15 



After I had been nursed for about twelve 
months, I had so far recovered that it was 
deemed expedient to bind me out, until I 
should attain the age of twenty-one years. 
Mr. Furman the person with whom the se- 
lectmen had placed me was a poor man, a 
cooper by trade, and obtained his living by 
the labour of his hands. As I was only five 
years old, he at first thought that his cir- 
cumstances would not justify him in keeping 
me, as it would be some considerable time 
before I could render him much service. 
But such was the attachment of the family 
towards me, that he came to the conclusion 
to keep me until I was of age, and he fur- 
ther agreed to give me so much instruction 
as would enable me to read and write. Ac- 
cordingly, when I attained my sixth year, I 
was sent to school, and continued for six 
successive winters — during this time I learn- 
ed to read and write, though not so well 
as I could have wished. This was all the 
instruction of the kind I ever received — 
Small and imperfect as was the amount of 
the knowledge I obtained, yet in view of the 
advantages I have thus derived, I bless God 
for it* 



18 



A SON OF THE FOUEST. 



CHAPTER II. 

^ I believe that it is assumed asa factamong 
divines, that the Spirit of divine truth, in the 
boundless diversity of its operations, visits 
the mind of every intelligent being, born 
into the world— but the time when, is only 
fully known to the Almighty and the soul 
which is the object of the Holy Spirit's en- 
lightening influence. It is also conceded on 
all hands, that the Spirit of Truth operates 
on different minds, in a variety of ways^- 
but always with the design of convincing 
man of sin and of a judgment to come. 
And oh ! that men would regard their real 
interests and yield to the illuminating influ- 
ences of the Spirit of God — then wretched- 
ness and misery would abound no longer, 
but every thing of the kind give place, to 
the pure principles of peace, godliness, 
brotherly kindness, meekness, charity and 
love. These graces are spontaneously pro- 
duced in the human heart, and are exempli- 
fied in the christian deportment of every soul 
under the mellowing and sanctifying influ- 
ences of the Spirit of God. They are the 
peaceable fruits of a meek and quiet spirit. 

The perverseness of man in this respect, is 
one of the great and conclusive proofs of his 
apostacy, and of the rebellious inclination 



A SON OP THE FOKESTe 



IT 



of his unsanctified heart to the will and wis- 
dom of his Creator and his judge. 

I have heard a great deal said respecting 
infants feeling as it were the operations of the 
Holy Spirit on their minds, impressing them 
with a sense of their wickedness and the ne- 
cessity of a preparation for a future state. 
Children at a very early age manifest in a 
strong degree two of the evil passions of our 
nature — anger and. pride. We need not won- 
der, therefore, that persons in early life, feel 
good impressions ; indeed, it is a fact too 
well established to admit of doubt or contro- 
versy, that many children have manifested a 
strength of intellect far above their years, 
and have given ample evidence of a good 
w r ork of grace manifest by the influence of 
the Spirit of God in their young and tender 
minds. But this is perhaps attributable to 
the care and attention bestowed upon them. 

If constant and judicious means are used 
to impress upon their young and suscepti- 
ble minds, sentiments of truth, virtue, mo- 
rality, and religion, and these efforts are sus- 
tained by a corresponding practice on the 
part of parents or those who strive to make 
these early impressions, we may rationally 
trust that as their young minds expand, they 
will be led to act upon the wholesome prin- 
ciples they have received — and that at a very 
early period these good impressions will be 
2* 



16 



a son or the forest. 



more indelibly engraved on their hearts by 
the co-operating influences of that Spirit , who 
in the days of his glorious incarnation, said, 
fci suffer little children to come unto me, and 
forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom 
of heaven/' 

But to my experience, and the reader 
knows full well that experience is the best 
schoolmaster : for, what we have expe- 
rienced, that we know, and all the world 
cannot possibly beat it out of as. I well re- 
member the conversation that took place 
between Mrs. Furman and myself when I 
was about six years of age, she was attached 
to the Baptist church, and was esteemed as 
a very pious woman. Of this I have not the 
shadow of a doubt, as her whole course of 
conduct was upright and exemplary. On 
this occasion, she spoke to me respecting a 
future state of existence, and told me that I 
might die, and enter upon it, to which I 
replied that I was too young- — thatoldpeople 
only died. Bat she assured me that I was 
not too young, and in order to convince me 
of the truth of the observation, she referred 
me to the grave yard, where many younger 
and smaller persons than myself were laid 
to moulder in the earth. I had of course 
nothing to say — but, notwithstanding, I could 
not fully comprehend the nature of death, 
and the meaning of a future state, yet I felt 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 19 

an indescribable sensation pass through my 
frame, I trembled and was sore afraid, and 
for some time endeavoured to hide myself 
from the destroying monster, but I could find 
no place of refuge. The conversation and 
pious admonitions of this good lady made a 
lasting impression upon my mind. At times 9 
however, this impression appeared to be 
wearing away — then again I would become 
thoughtful, make serious inquiries, and seem 
anxious to know something more certain re- 
specting myself, and that state of existence 
beyond the grave, in which I was instructed 
to believe. About this time I was taken to 
meeting in order to hear the word of God, and 
receive instruction in divine things. This was 
the first time I had ever entered a house of 
worship, and instead of attending to what the 
minister said, I was employed in gazing about 
the house, or playing with the unruly boys, 
with whom I was seated in the gallery. On 
my return home, Mr. Furman, who had been 
apprised of my conduct, told me that I had 
acted very wrong. He did not however stop 
here. He went on to tell me how I ought 
to behave in church, and to this very day I 
bless God for such wholesome and timely 
instruction. In this particular I was not 
slow to learn, as I do not remember that 
I have from that day to this, misbehaved in 
the house of GocL 



•20 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



It may not be improper to remark in this 
place, that a vast proportion of the miscon- 
duct of young people in church, is chargea- 
ble to their parents and guardians. It is to 
be feared that there are too many professing 
christians who feel satisfied if their children 
or those under their care enter on a sabbath 
day within the walls of the sanctuary, without 
reference to their conduct while there. I 
would have such persons seriously ask them- 
selves whether they think they discharge 
the duties obligatory on them by the relation 
in which they stand to their Maker, as well 
as those committed to their care, by so much 
negligence on their part. The christian 
feels it a duty imposed on him to conduct his 
children to the house of God. But he rests 
not here. He must have an eye over them., 
and if- they act well, approve and encourage 
them ; if otherwise, point out to them their 
error, and persuade them to observe a dis- 
creet and exemplary course of conduct while 
in church. 

After a while I became very fond of at- 
tending on the word of God — then again I 
would meet the enemy of my soul, who 
would strive to lead me away, and in many 
instances he was but too successful, and to 
this day I remember that nothing scarcely 
grieved me so much, when my mind had 
been thus petted, than to be called by a 



A sOS" OF THE FOIiEST. 



21 



nick name. If I was spoken to in the spirit 
of kindness, I would be instantly disarmed 
of my stubborness, and ready to perform 
any thing required of me. I know of nothing 
so trying to a child as to be repeatedly 
called by an improper name. I thought it 
disgraceful to be called an Indian ; it was 
considered as a slur upon an oppressed and 
scattered nation, and I have often been led 
to inquire where the whites received this 
word, which they so often threw as an op- 
probrious epithet at the sons of the for- 
est. I could not find it in the bible, and 
therefore concluded, that it was a word im- 
ported for the special purpose of degrading 
us* At other times I thought it was derived 
from the term in-gen-uity. But the proper 
term which ought to be applied to our nation, 
to distinguish it from the rest of the human 
family, is that of " Natives" — and I humbly 
conceive that the natives of this country are 
the only people under heaven who have a 
just title to the name, inasmuch as we are 
the only people who retain the original com- 
plexion - of our father Adam. Notwith- 
standing my thoughts on this matter, so 
completely was I weaned from the interests 
and affections of my brethren, that a mere 
threat of being sent away among the Indians 
into the dreary woods, had a much better 
effect in making me obedient to the com- 
mands of my superiors, than any corporeal 



22 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



punishment that they ever inflicted. I had 
received a lesson in the unnatural treatment 
of my own relations, which could not be 
effaced ; and I thought that if those who 
should have loved and protected me, treated 
me with such unkindness, surely I had no 
reason to expect mercy or favour at the 
hands of those who knew me in no other re- 
lation than that of a cast-off member of the 
tribe. A threat, of the kind alluded to, 
invariably produced obedience on my part, 
so far as I understood the nature of the 
command. 

I cannot perhaps give a better idea of the 
dread which prevaded my mind on seeing 
any of my brethren of the forest, than by re- 
lating the following occurence. One day 
several of the family went into the woods to ga- 
ther berries, taking me with them. We had 
not been out long before we fell in with a com- 
pany of white females, on the same errand-— 
their complexion was, to say the least, as 
dark as that of the natives. This circum- 
stance filled my mind with terror, and I 
broke from the party with my utmost speed, 
and I could not muster courage enough to 
look behind until I had reached home. By 
this time my imagination had pictured out a 
tale of blood, and as soon as I regained 
breath sufficient to answer the questions 
which my master asked, I informed him that 
we had met a body of the natives in the 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



23 



woods, but what had become of the party I 
could not tell. Notwithstanding the manifest 
incredibility of my tale of terror, Mr. Fur- 
man was agitated ; my very appearance w 7 as 
sufficient to convince him that I had been 
terrified by something, and summoning the 
remainder of the family, he sallied out in 
quest of the absent party, whom he found 
searching for me among the bushes. The 
whole mystery was soon unravelled. It 
may be proper for me here to remark, that 
the great fear I entertained of my brethren, 
was occasioned by the many stories I had 
heard of their cruelty towards the whites — 
how they were in the habit of killing and 
scalping men, women and children. But the 
whites did not tell me that they were in a 
great majority of instances the aggressors — 
that they had imbrued their hands in the life 
blood of my brethren, driven them from their 
once peaceful and happy homes — that they 
introduced among them the fatal and exter- 
minating diseases of civilized life. If the 
whites had told me how cruel they had been 
to the " poor Indian," I should have appre- 
hended as much harm from them. 

Shortly after this occurrence I relapsed 
into my former bad habits — was fond of the 
company of the boys, and in a short time 
lost in a great measure that spirit of obedi- 
ence which had made me the favourite of 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



my mistress. I was easily led astray, and, 
once in particular, I was induced by a boy, 
(my senior by five or six years) to assist 
him in his depredations on a water melon 
patch belonging to one of the neighbours. 
But we were found out, and my companion 
in wickedness led me deeper in sin, by per- 
suading me to deny the crime laid to our 
charge. I obeyed him to the very letter, 
and when accused, flatly denied knowing 
any thing of the matter. The boasted cour- 
age of the boy, however, began to fail as 
soon as he saw danger thicken, and he con- 
fessed it as strongly as he had denied it. 
The man from whom we had pillaged the 
melons threatened to send us to Newgate, 
but he relented. The story shortly after- 
ward reached the ears of the good Mrs. 
Furman, who talked seriously to me about 
it. She told me that I could be sent to 
prison for it — that I had done wrong, and 
gave me a great deal of wholesome advice. 
This had a much better effect than forty 
floggings — it sunk so deep into my mind that 
the impression can never be effaced. 

I now went on without difficulty for a few 
months, when I was assailed by fresh and un- 
expected troubles. One of the girls belong- 
ing to the house had taken some offence at 
me, and declared she would be revenged. 
The better to effect this end, she told Mr, 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



25 



Furman that I had not only threatened to 
kill her, but had actually pursued her with 
a knife, whereupon he came to the place 
where I was working and began to whip me 
severely. I could not tell for what. I told 
him I had done no harm, to which he re- 
plied, "I will learn you, you Indian dog, 
how to chase people with a knife." I told 
him I had not, but he would not believe me, 
and continued to whip me for a long while. 
But the poor man soon found out his 
error, as after he had flogged me, he un- 
dertook to investigate the matter, when to 
his amazement he discovered it was nothing 
but fiction, as all the children assured him 
that I did no such thing. He regretted be- 
ing so hasty — but I saw wherein the great 
difficulty consisted, if I had not denied the 
melon affair, he would have believed me, 
but as I had uttered an untruth about that, it 
was natural for him to think that the person 
who will tell one lie, will not scruple at two. 
For a long while after this circumstance 
transpired, I did not associate with my com- 
panions. 



26 



A SON OF THE FOREST . 



CHAPTER III. 

About the time that I had attained my eighth 
year a sect called the Christians visited our 
neighbourhood. Their hearts were warm in 
the cause of God — they were earnest and 
fervent in prayer, and I took great delight 
in hearing them sing the songs of Zion. 
Whenever I attended their meetings, which 
I did as often as possible, I listened to the 
word of God with the greatest degree of at- 
tention. It was not long before I resolved 
to mend my ways and become a better boy. 
By my strict attendance on divine worship 
and my orderly behaviour, I attracted the 
notice of some of the people, who, when they 
discovered that I was seriously impressed, 
took me by the hand, and strove by every 
possible means to cheer and encourage me. 
The notice thus taken of me had a very hap- 
py influence on my mind. I now determin- 
ed to set about the work of repentance. On 
one occasion the minister addressed the peo- 
ple from a text touching the future state of 
mankind. 

He spoke much on the eternal happiness of 
the righteous, and the everlasting misery of 
the ungodly, and his observations sunk with 
awful weight upon my mind, and I was led 
to make many serious inquiries about the 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 

way of salvation. In these days of young 
desires and youthful aspirations, I found Mrs. 
Furraan ever ready to give me good advice. 
My mind was intent upon learning the lesson 
of righteousness, in order that I might walk 
in the good way, and cease to do evil. My 
mind for one so young was greatly drawn 
out to seek the Lord. This spirit was 
manifested in my daily walk ; and the 
friends of Christ noticed my afflictions ; they 
knew that I was sincere because my spirits 
were depressed. When I was in church I 
could not at times avoid giving vent to my 
feelings, and often have I wept sorely before 
the Lord and his people. They of course, 
observed this change in my conduct — they 
knew I had been a rude child, and that ef- 
forts were made to bring me up in a proper 
manner, but the change in my deportment 
they did not ascribe to the influence of divine 
grace, inasmuch as they all considered me 
too young to be impressed with a sense of 
divine things. They were filled with unbelief. 
I need not describe the peculiar feelings of 
my soul. 

I became very fond of attending meetings ; 
so much so that Mr. Furman forbid me. He 
supposed that I only went for the purpose of 
seeing the boys and playing with them. ^ This 
thing caused me a great deal of grief; I 
went for many days with my head and heart 



*0 A SON OF THE FOREST* 

bowed down. No one had any idea of the 
mental agony I suffered, and perhaps the 
mind of no* untutored child of my age was 
ever more seriously exercised. Sometimes 
I was tried and tempted — then I would 
be overcome by the fear of death. By day 
and by night I was in a continual ferment. 
To add to my fears about this time, death 
entered the family of Mr. Furman and re- 
moved his mother-in-law. I was much af- 
fected, as the old lady was the first corpse I 
had ever seen. She had always been so kind 
to me that I missed her quite as much as her 
children, and I had been allowed to call her 
mother. 

Shortly after this occurrence I was taken 
ilk I then thought that I should surely die. 
The distress of body and the anxiety of 
mind wore me down. Now I think that the 
disease with which I was afflicted was a 
very curious one. The physician could 
not account for it, and how should I be able 
to do it ; neither had those who were about 
me ever witnessed any disorder of the kind. 
I felt continually as if I was about being 
suffocated, and was consequently a great 
deal of trouble to the family, as some one 
had to be with me. One day Mr. Furman 
thought he would frighten the disease out of 
me. Accordingly he told me that all that 
ailed me was this— that the devil had taken 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 29 

complete possession of me, and that he was 
determined to flog him out. This threat had 
not the desired effect. One night, however^ 
I got up, and went out, although I was 
afraid to be alone, and continued out by the 
door until after the family had retired to 
bed. After a while Mr. F. got up and gave 
me a dreadful whipping. He really thought, 
I believe that the devil was in me, and sup- 
posed that the birch was the best mode of 
ejecting him. But the flogging was as fruit- 
less as the preceeding threat in the accom- 
plishment of his object, and he, poor man ? 
found out his mistake, like many others who 
act without discretion. 

One morning after this I went out in the 
yard to assist Mrs. Furman milk the cows. 
We had not been out long before I felt very 
singular, and began to make a strange noise. 
I believed that I was going to die, and ran 
up to the house; she followed me immedi- 
diately, expecting me to breathe my last. 
Every effort to breathe was accompanied by 
this strange noise, which was so loud as to 
be heard a considerable distance. However, 
contrary to all expectation I began to re- 
vive, and from that very day my disorder 
began to abate, and I gradually regained 
my former health. 

Soon after I recovered from my sickness, 
I went astray, associating again with my old 
3* 



30 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

school fellows, and on some occasions pro* 
faning the sabbath day. I did not do thus 
without warning, as conscience would speak 
to me when I did wrong. Nothing very ex- 
traordinary occurred until I had attained 
my eleventh year. At this time it was 
fashionable for boys to run away, and the 
wicked one put it into the head of the oldest 
boy on the farm to persuade me to follow the 
fashion. He told me that I could take care 
of myself, and get my own living. I thought 
it was a very pretty notion to be a man — to 
do business for myself and become rich. 
Like a fool I concluded to make the experi- 
ment, and accordingly began to pack up my 
clothes as deliberately as could be, and in 
which my adviser assisted. I had been once 
or twice at New London, where I saw, as I 
thought, every thing wonderful: thither I 
determined to bend my course, as I expect- 
ed, that on reaching the town I should be 
metamorphosed into a person of conse- 
quence; I had the world and every thing 
my little heart could desire in a string, when 
behold, my companion who had persuaded 
me to act thus, informed my master that I 
was going to run off. At first he would not 
believe the boy, but my clothing already 
packed up was ample evidence of my inten- 
tion. On being questioned I acknowledged 
the fact. I did not wish to leave them — told 
Mr Furman so ; he believed me, but thought 



A SO^ OF THE FOREST. 



31 



best that for a while I should have another 
master. He accordingly agreed to transfer 
my indentures to Judge Hillhouse for the 
gum of twenty dollars. Of course after the 
bargain was made, my consent was to be ob- 
tained, but I was as unwilling to go now, as 
I had been anxious to run away before. Af- 
ter some persuasion, I agreed to try it for a 
fortnight, on condition that I should take my 
dog with me, and my request being granted, 
I was soon under the old man's roof, as he 
only lived about six miles off. Here every 
thing was done to make me contented, be- 
cause they thought to promote their own in- 
terests by securing my services. They fed 
me with nicknacks, and soon after I went 
among them, I had a jack knife presented to 
me, which was the first one I had ever seen. 
Like other boys, I spent my time either in 
whittling or playing with my dog, and was 
withal very happy. But I was home sick 
at heart, and as soon as my fortnight had 
expired, I went home without ceremony. 
Mr. Furman's family were surprized to see 
me, but that surprise was mutual satisfac- 
tion in which my faithful dog appeared to 
participate. 

The joy I felt on returning home as 1 
hoped, was turned to sorrow on being in- 
formed that I had been sold to the judge, 
and must instantly return. This 1 was com- 



82 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

pelled to do. And reader, all this sorrow 
was in consequence of being led away by a 
bad boy: if I had not listened to him I should 
not have lost my home. Such treatment I 
conceive to be the best means to accomplish 
the ruin of a child, as the reader will see in 
the sequel. I was sold to the judge at a time 
when age had rendered him totally unfit to 
manage an unruly lad. If he undertook to 
correct me, which he did at times, I did not 
regard it as I knew that I could run off from 
him if he was too severe, and besides I could 
do what I pleased in defiance of his authority. 
Now the old gentleman was a member of 
the Presbyterian church, and withal a very 
strict one. He never neglected family prayer, 
and he always insisted on my being present. 
I did not believe, or rather had no faith in 
his prayer, because it was the same thing 
from day to day, and I had heard it repeated 
so often, that I knew it as well as he. Al- 
though I was so young, I did not think that 
Christians ought to learn their prayers, and 
knowing that he repeated the same thing 
from day to day, is I have no doubt, the very 
reason why his petitions did me no good. I 
could fix no value on his prayers. 

After a little while the conduct of my new 
guardians was changed towards me. Once 
secured I was no longer the favourite. The 
few clothes I had were not taken care of, by 



A SON OF TIIE FOE EST. S3 

which I mean, no pains were taken to keep 
them clean and whole, and the consequence 
was that in a little time they were all " tat- 
tered and torn," and I was not fit to be seen 
in decent company. I had not the opportu- 
nity of attending" meeting* as before. Yet as 
the divine and reclaiming impression had 
not been entirely defaced, I would frequent- 
ly i^tire behind the barn, and attempt to 
pray in my weak manner. I now became 
quite anxious to attend evening meetings a 
few miles oft': I asked the judge if I should 
go and take one of the horses, to which he 
consented. This promise greatly delighted 
me — but when it was time for me to go, all 
my hopes were dashed at once, as the judge 
had changed his mind. I was not to be foil- 
ed so easily; I watched the first opportunity 
and slipped off with one of the horse*, 
reached the meeting, and returned in safety* 
Here I was to blame ; if he acted wrong, it 
did not justify me in doing so ; but being suc- 
cessful in one grand act of disobedience, I 
was encouraged to make another similar at- 
tempt, whenever my unsanctified disposi- 
tions prompted ; for the very next time I 
wished to go to meeting, I thought I would 
take the horse again, and in the same manner 
too, without the knowledge of my master. 
As he was by some means apprized of my 
intention, he prevented my doing so, and had 



34 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

the horses locked up in the stable. He then 
commanded me to give him the bridle ; I 
was obstinate for a time, then threw it at 
the old gentleman, and run off. I did not 
return until the next day, when I received a 
flogging for my bad conduct, which de- 
termined me to run away. Now the judge 
was partly to blame for all this. He had in 
the first place treated me with the utmost 
kindness until he had made sure of me. 
Then the whole course of his conduct 
changed, and I believed he fulfilled only one 
item of the transferred indentures, and that 
was work. Of this there was no lack. To 
be sure I had enough to eat, such as it was, 
but he did not send me to school as he 
had promised. 

A few days found me on my was to New- 
London, where I staid awhile. I then 
pushed on to Waterford, and as my father 
lived about twenty miles off, I concluded to 
go and see him. I got there safely, and told 
him I had come on a visit, and that I should 
stay one week. At the expiration of the 
week he bid me go home, and I obeyed him. 
On my return I was treated rather coolly, 
and this not suiting my disposition, I run off 
again, but returned in a few days,. Now, as 
the judge found he could not control me, 
he got heartily tired of me, and wished to 
hand me over to some one else, so he ob- 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



35 



tained a place for me in New London. I 
knew nothing of it, and I was greatly mor- 
tified to think that I was sold in this way. 
If my consent had been solicited as a matter 
of form. I should not have felt so bad. But 
to be sold to, and treated unkindly, by those 
who had got our father's lands for nothing, 
was too much to bear. When all things 
were ready, the judge told me that he wanted 
me to go to New London with a neighbour, 
to purchase salt. I was delighted, and went 
with the man, expecting to return that night. 
When I reached the place I found my mis- 
take. The name of the person to whom I 
was transferred this time, was Gen. William 
Williams, and as my treatment at the Judge's 
was none of the best, I went home with him 
contentedly. Indeed I felt glad that I had 
changed masters, and more especially that I 
was to reside in the city. The finery and 
show caught my eye, and captivated my 
heart. I can truly say that my situation was 
better now than it had been previously to 
my residence in New London. In a little 
time I was furnished with good new clothes. 
1 had enough to eat, both as it respects 
quality and quantity, and my work was light. 
The whole family treated me kindly, and 
the only difficulty of moment was that they 
all wished to be masters. But I would not 
obey all of them. There was a French boy 



36 A SON OF THE FOHEST. 

in the family, who one day told Mr. Williams 
a wilful lie about me, which he believed, 
and gave me a horse-whipping, without ask- 
ing me a single question about it. Now I do 
not suppose that he whipped so much on 
account of what the boy told him, as he did 
from the influence of the Judge's directions. 
He used the falsehood as a pretext for 
flogging me as from what he said he was 
determined to make a good boy of me at 
once — as if stripes were calculated to eflect 
that which love, kindness and instruction 
can only ^ succesfully accomplish. He told 
me that if I ever run away from him he 
would follow me to the uttermost parts of 
the earth. I knew from this observation that 
the Judge had told him that I was a runaway. 
However cruel this treatment appeared, for 
the accusation was false, yet it did me much 
good, as I was ready to obey the general 
and his lady at all times. But I could 
not and would not obey any but my supe- 
riors. In short, I got on very smoothly for 
a season. 

The general attended the Presbyterian 
church, and was exact in having all his family 
-with him in the house of God." I of course 
formed one of the number. Though I did 
not profess religion, I observed and felt that 
their ways were not like the ways of the 
Christians. It appeared inconsistent to me 



A SON OP THE FOREST. 37 

for a minister to read his sermon — to turn 
over leaf after leaf, and at the conclusion say 
"amen," seemed to me like an " empty sound 
and a tinkling cymbal." I was not benefitted 
by his reading. It did not arouse me to a 
sense of my danger— and I am of the opinion 
that it had no better effect on the people of 
his charge. I liked to attend church, as I 
had been taught in my younger years to 
venerate the Sabbath day; and although 
young I could plainly perceive the difference 
between the preachers I had formerly heard 
and the minister at whose church I attended. 
I thought, as near as I can remember, that 
the Christian depended on the Holy Spirit's 
influence entirely, while this minister de- 
pended as much upon his learning. I would 
not be understood as saying any thing against 
knowledge ; in its place it is good, and highly 
necessary to a faithful preacher of righteous- 
ness. What I object to is, placing too much 
reliance in it, making a god of it, &c. 

Every thing went on smoothly for two or 
three years. About this time the Methodists 
began to hold meetings in the neighbour- 
hood, and consequently a storm of persecu- 
tion gathered ; the pharisee and the worldling 
united heartily in abusing them. The gall 
and wormwood of sectarian malice were 
emitted, and every evil report prejudicial to 
this pious people was freely circulated. And 
4 



A SON OF TEE FO££ST% 



it was openly said that the character of a 
respecahle man would receive a stain, and 
a deep one too, by attending one of their 
meetings. Indeed the stories circulated about 
them were bad enough to deter people of 
" character!" from attending the Methodist 
ministry, But it had no effect an me. I 
thought I had no character to lose in the es- 
timation of those who were accounted great. 
For what cared they for me ? They had 
possession of the red man's inheritance, and 
had deprived me of liberty; with this they 
were satisfied, and could do as they pleased; 
therefore, I thought I could do as I pleased^ 
measurably, I therefore went to hear the 
noisy Methodists. When I reached the house 
I found a clever company. They did not 
appear to differ much from \ 6 respectable' y 
people. They were neatly and decently 
clothed, and I could not see that they dif- 
fered from other people except in their be- 
haviour, which was more kind and gentle- 
manly. Their countenance was heavenly, 
their songs were like sweetest music — in 
their manners they were "plain. Their lan- 
guage was not fashioned after the wisdom of 
men. When the minister preached he spoke 
as one having authority. The exercises 
were accompanied by the power of God, 
His people shouted for joy — while sinners 
wept. This being the first time I had ever 



A SON OF THE FOREST, 



39 



attended a meeting of this kind, all things of 
course appeared new to me. I was very 
far from forming the opinion that most of 
the neighbourhood entertained about them. 
From this time I became more serious, and 
soon went to hear the Methodists again, and 
1 was constrained to believe that they were 
the true people of God. One person asked 
me how I knew it ? I replied that I was 
convinced in my own mind that they pos- 
sessed something more than the power of the 
devil. 

I now attended these meetings constantly, 
and although I was a sinner before God, 
yet I felt no disposition to laugh or scoff. 
I make this observation because so many 
people went to these meetings to make fun. 
This was a common thing, and I often won- 
dered how persons who professed to be con- 
sidered great, i. e. " ladies and gentlemen, " 
would so far disgrace themselves as to scoff 
in the house of God, and at his holy services. 
Such persons let themselves down below the 
heathen, in point of moral conduct — below 
the heathen, yes, and below the level of the 
brute creation, who answer the end for which 
they were made. 

But notwithstanding the people were so 
wicked, the Lord had respect unto the la- 
bours of his servants ; his ear was open to 
iheir daily supplications, and in answer to 



4U A SON OP THE FOREST. 

prayer he was pleasec to revive his work. 
The power of the Holy Ghost moved forth 
among the people— the spirit's influence was 
felt at every meeting— the people of God 
were built up in their faith— their confidence 
in the Lord of hosts gathered strength, 
while many sinners were alarmed, and began 
to cry aloud for mercy. In a little time the 
work rolled onward like an overwhelming 
flood. Now the Methodists and all who 
attended their meetings were greatly per- 
secuted. All denominations were up in 
arms against them, because the Lord was 
blessing their labours and making them (a 
poor despised people) his instruments in 
the conversion of sinners. But all oppo- 
sition had no other effect than of cementing 
the brethren more closely together; the work 
went on, as the Lord was with them of a 
truth, and signally owned and blessed their 
labours. At one of these meetings I was 
induced to laugh, I believe it must have 
been to smother my conviction, as it did 
not come from my heart. My heart was 
troubled on account of sin, and when con- 
viction pressed upon me, J endeavoured not 
only to be cheerful, but to laugh ; and thus 
drive away all appearance of being WTought 
upon. Shortly after this I was affected even 
unto tears, This the people of the world 



A SOS OF THE FOREST. 



41 



-observed and immediately inquired if I was 
one of the Lamb's children. Brother Hill 
was then speaking from this passage of 
scripture — Behold the Lamb of God, that 
iaketh away the sins of the world. He spoke 
feelingly of his sufferings upon the cross — 
of the precious blood that flowed like a puri- 
fying river from his side— of his sustaining 
the accumulated weight of the sins of the 
w T hole world, and dying to satisfy the de- 
mands of that justice which could only be 
appeased by an infinite atonement. I felt 
convinced that Christ died for all mankind — 
that age. sect, colour, country, or situation, 
made no difference. I felt an assurance 
that I was included in the plan of redemp- 
tion with all my brethren. No one can con- 
ceive with what joy I hailed this new doc- 
trine as it was called — It removed every ex- 
cuse, and I freely believed that all I had to do 
was to look in faith upon the Lamb of God 
that made himself a free-will offering for my 
unregenerate and wicked soul upon the cross. 
My spirits were depressed — my crimes were 
arrayed before me, and no tongue can tell 
the anguish I felt. 

After meeting I returned home with a 
heavy heart, determined to seek the salva- 
tion of my soul. This night I slept but little 
—at times I would be melted down to ten- 
derness and tears, and then again my heart 
4* 



42 A SON OF THE FOKEST. 

would seem as hard as adamant. I was 
greatly tempted. The evil one would try 
to persuade me that I was not in the pale of 
mercy. I fancied that evil spirits stood 
around my bed — my condition was deplora- 
bly awful — and I longed for the day to break, 
as much as the tempest tost mariner who ex- 
pects every moment to be washed from the 
wreck to which he fondly clings. So it was 
with me upon the wreck of the world — 
buffetted by temptations — assailed by the 
devil — sometimes in despair — then believing 
against hope. My heart seemed at times 
almost ready to break, while the tears of 
contrition coursed rapidly down my cheeks. 
But sin was the cause of this, and no won- 
der I groaned and wept. I had often sinned, 
and my accumulated transgressions had piled 
themselves as a rocky mountain on my heart, 
and how could I endure it? The weight 
thereof seemed to crush me down. In the 
night season I had frightful visions, and 
would often start from my sleep and gaze 
round the room, as I was ever in dread of see- 
ing the evil one ready to carry me off. I 
continued in this frame of mind for more than 
seven weeks. 

My distress finally became so acute that 
the family took notice of it. Some of them 
persecuted me because I was serious and 
fond of attending meeting. Now, persecu- 



A SON OF THE FOREST . 43 

tion raged on every hand, within and with- 
out, and I had none to take me by the hand 
and say, " go with us and we will do thee 
good." But in the midst of difficulties so 
great to one only fifteen years of age, I 
ceased not to pray for the salvation of my 
soul. Very often my exercises were so 
great that sleep departed from me — I was 
fearful that I should wake up in hell. And 
one night when I was in bed, mourning like 
the dove for her absent mate, I fell into a 
dose. I thought I saw the world of fire — it 
resembled a large solid bed of coals — red 
and glowing with heat. I shall never forget 
the impression it made upon my mind. No 
tongue can possibly describe the agony of 
my soul, for now I was greatly in fear of 
dropping into that awful place, the smoke 
of the torment of which ascendeth up for 
ever and ever. I cried earnestly for mercy. 
Then I was carried to another place, where 
perfect happiness appeared to pervade every 
part, and the inhabitants thereof. O how 
I longed to be among that happy company. 
I sighed to be free from misery and pain. 
I knew that nothing but the attenuated thread 
of life kept me from falling into the awful 
lake I beheld. I cannot think that it is in 
the power of human language to describe 
the feelings that rushed upon my mind, or 
thrilled through my veins. Every thing 



44 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

appeared to bear the signet of reality; when 
I awoke, I heartily rejoiced to find it nothing 
but a dream. 

I went on from day to day with my head 
and heart bowed down, seeking the Saviour 
of sinners, but without success. The hea- 
vens appeared to be brass; my prayers 
wanted the wings of faith to waft them to 
the skies ; the disease of my heart increased ; 
the heavenly physician had not stretched 
forth his hand and poured upon my soul the 
panacea of the gospel; the scales had not 
fallen from my eyes, and no ray of celestial 
light had dispelled the darkness that gath- 
ered around my soul. The cheering sound 
of sincere friendship fell not upon my ear. 
It seemed as if I were friendless, unpitied, 
and unknown, and at times I wished to be- 
come a dweller in the wilderness. No won- 
der then, that I was almost desponding. 
Surrounded by difficulties and apparent dan- 
gers, I was resolved to seek the salvation of 
my soul with all my heart — to trust entirely 
to the Lord, and if I failed, to perish plead- 
ing for mercy at the foot of the throne. I 
now hung all my hope on the Redeemer, 
and clung with indescribable tenacity to the 
cross on which he purchased salvation for 
the "vilest of the vile." The result was 
such as is always to be expected, when a 
lost and ruined sinner throws himself entirely 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



45 



on the Lord — perfect freedom. On the fif- 
teenth day of March, in the year of our Lord, 
eighteen hundred and thirteen, I heard a 
voice in soft and soothing accents, saying 
unto me, — Arise, thy sins which were many 
are all forgiven thee, go in peace and sin no 

7nore ! 

There was nothing very singular, (save 
the fact that the Lord stooped to lift me up,) 
in my conversion. I had been sent into the 
garden to work, and while there I lifted up 
my heart to God, when all at once my bur- 
den and fears left me — my heart melted into 
tenderness — my soul was filled with love — 
love to God, and love to all mankind. Oh 
how my poor heart swelled with joy — and I 
could cry from my very soul, Glory to God 
in the highest ! ! ! There was not only a 
change in my heart but in every thing around 
me. The scene was entirely altered. The 
works of God praised Him, and I saw him 
in every thing that he had made. My love 
now embraced the whole human family. The 
children of God I loved most affectionately. 
Oh how I longed to be with them, and when 
any of them passed by me, I Mould gaze at 
them until they were lost in the distance. I 
could have pressed them to my bosom, as 
they were more precious to me than gold, 
and I was always loth to part with them when- 
ever we met together. The change, too, 
was visible in my very countenance. 



46 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

I enjoyed great peace of mind, and that 
peace was like a river full, deep, and wide, 
and flowing continually; my mind was em- 
ployed in contemplating the wonderful works 
of God,^ and in praising his holy name, dwelt 
so continually upon his mercy and goodness 
that I could praise him aloud even in my 
sleep. I continued in this happy frame of 
mind for some months. It was very pleasant 
to live in the enjoyment of pure and undefiled 
religion. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The calm and sunshine did not however 
continue uninterrupted for any length of time ; 
my peace of mind, which flowed as a river, 
was disturbed. While the adversary tempted 
me, the fire of persecution was rekindled. 
It was considered by some members of the 
family, that I was too young to be religiously 
inclined, and consequently that I was under 
a strong delusion. After a time, Mr. Wil- 
liams came to the conclusion, that it was ad- 
visable for me to absent myself entirely from 
the Methodist meetings. 

This restriction was the more galling, as I 
had joined the class, and was extremely fond 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



47 



of this means of grace. I generally attended 
once in each week, so when the time came 
round, I went off to the meeting, without per- 
mission. When I returned, Mrs* Williams 
prepared to correct me for acting contrary to 
my orders ; in the first place, however, she 
asked me where I had been, I frankly told 
her that I had been to meeting to worship God. 
This reply completely disarmed her, and saved 
me a flogging for the time. But this was not 
the end of my persecution or my troubles. 

The chamber-maid was in truth a treach- 
erous woman; her heart appeared to me to 
be filled with deceit and guile, and she perse- 
cuted me with as much bitterness as Paul did 
the disciples of old. She had a great dislike 
towards me, and would not hesitate to tell a 
falsehood in order to have me whipped. But 
my mind was stayed upon God, and I had 
much comfort in reading the holy Scriptures. 
One day after she had procured me a flogging, 
and no very mild one either, she pushed me 
down a long flight of stairs. In the fall I was 
greatly injured, especially my head: in con- 
sequence of this I was disabled, and laid up 
for a long time. When I told Mr. Williams 
that the maid had pushed me down stairs, she 
denied it, but I succeeded in making them 
believe it. In all this trouble the Lord was 
with me of a truth. I was happy in the en- 
joyment of his love. The abuse heaped on me 
was in consequence of my being a Methodist* 



48 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

Sometimes I would get permission to attend 
meetings in the evening, and once or twice on 
the Sabbath. And oh, how thankful I felt for 
these opportunities for hearing the word of 
God. But the waves of persecution, and af- 
fliction, and sorrow, rolled on, and gathered 
strength in their progress, and for a season 
overwhelmed my dispirited soul. I was flog- 
ged several times very unjustly for what the 
maid said respecting me. My treatment in 
this respect was so bad that I could not brook 
it, and in an evil hour I listened to the sug- 
gestions of the devil, who was not slow in 
prompting me to pursue a course directly at 
variance with the Gospel. He put it into my 
head to abscond from my master, and I made 
arrangements with a boy of my acquaintance 
to accompany me. So one day Mr. Williams 
had gone to Stonington, I left his house, not- 
withstanding he had previously threatened if 
I did so, to follow me to the ends of the earth. 
While my companion was getting ready I hid 
my clothes in a barn, and went to buy some 
bread and cheese, and while at the store, 
although I had about four dollars in my 
pocket, I so far forgot myself, as to buy a pair 
of shoes on my master's account. Then it 
was that I began to lose sight of religion and 
of God. We now set out; it being a rainy 
night, we bought a bottle of rum, of which 
poisonous stuff I drank heartily. Now the 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



49 



shadows of spiritual death began to gather 
around my soul. It was half past nine o'clock 
at night when we started, and to keep up our 
courage we took another drink of the liquor. 
As soon as we left the city, that is, as we de- 
scended the hill, it became very dark, and my 
companion, who was always fierce enough by 
daylight, began to hang back. I saw that 
his courage was failing, and endeavoured to 
cheer him up. Sometimes I would take a 
drink of rum to drown my sorrows — but in 
vain, it appears to me now as if my sorrows 
neutralized the effects of the liquor. 

This night we travelled about seven miles, 
and being weary and wet with the rain, we 
crept into a barn by the w T ay side, and for 
fear of being detected in the morning, if we 
should happen to sleep too long, we burrowed 
into the hay a considerable depth. We were 
aroused in the morning by the people feeding 
their cattle ; we laid still and they did not 
discover us. After they had left the barn we 
crawled out, made our breakfast on rum, 
bread, and cheese, and set off for Colchester, 
about fourteen miles distant, which we reach- 
ed that night. Here we ventured to put up 
at a tavern. The next morning we started 
for my father's, about four miles off. I told 
him that we had come to stay only one week, 
and when that week had expired he wished 
me to redeem my promise and return home. 



oU A SON OF THE FOREST. 

So I had seemingly to comply, and when we 
had packed up our clothes, he said he would 
accompany us part of the way; and when we 
parted I thought he had some suspicions of 
my intention to take another direction, as he 
begged me to go straight home. He then 
sat down on the way side and looked after 
us as long as we were to be seen. At last 
we descended a hill, and as soon as we lost 
sight of him, we struck into the woods. I 
did not see my father again for eight years. 
At this time, I felt very much disturbed. I 
was just going to step out on the broad thea- 
tre of the world, as it were, without father, 
mother, or friends. 

After travelling some distance in the woods, 
we shaped our course towards Hartford. We 
were fearful of being taken up, and my com- 
panion coined a story, which he thought 
would answer very well, It was to repre- 
sent ourselyes, wheneyer questioned, as hay- 
ing belonged to a priyateer, which was cap- 
tured by the British, who kindly sent us on 
shore near New-London; that our parents 
lived in the city of New- York, and that we 
were travelling thither to see them. 

Now John was a great liar. He was brought 
up by dissipated parents, and accustomed' in 
the way of the world to all kinds of company. 
He had a good memory, and having been 



A SOX OF THE FOKKST. SI 

where he heard war songs and tales of blood 
and carnage, he treasured them up. He 
therefore agreed to be spokesman, and I 
assure mv clear reader that I was perfectly 
willing, for abandoned as I was I could not 
lie without feeling my conscience smite me. 
This part of the business being arranged, it 
was agreed that I should sell part of my 
clothing to defray our expenses. Our heads 
were full of schemes, and we journeyed on 
until night overtook us. We then went into 
a farm-house to test our plan. The people 
soon began to ask us questions, and John 
as readily answered them. He gave them 
a great account of our having been captured 
b\ r the enemy, and so straight, that they be- 
lieved the whole of it. After supper we 
went to bed. and in the morning they gave 
us a good breakfast, and some bread and 
cheese, and we went on our way. satisfied 
with our exploits. Join now studied to 
make his story appear as correct as possible. 
The people pitied us, and sometimes we had 
a few shillings put into our hands. We did 
not suffer for" the want of food. At Hartford 
we stayed some time, and we here agreed to 
work our passage down to Ffew-1 ork on 
board of a brig — but learning that the British 
fleet was on the coast, the captain declined 
going. We then set out to reach New-S ork 
by land. We thought it a good way to 



5% A SON OP THE FOREST. 

walk. We went by way of New-Haven, ex- 
pecting to reach the city from that place by 
water. Again we were disappointed. We 
fell m company with some sailors who had 
been exchanged, and we listened to their 
story_it was an affecting one, and John 
concluded to incorporate a part of it with 
his own. So shortly afterwards he told some 
people that while we were prisoners, we 
had to eat bread mixed with pounded glass. 
1 he people were foolish enough to believe 
us. At Kingsbridge an old lady gave us 
several articles of clothing. Here we agreed 
with the captain of a vessel to work our way 
to New- York. When we got under weigh, 
John undertook to relate our sufferings to 
the crew. They appeared to believe it all, 
until he came to the incredible story of the 
" glass bread." This convinced the captain 
that all he said was false. He told us that 
he knew that we were runaways, and pressed 
us to tell him, but we declined. At length 
he told us that we were very near to Hell- 
gate, (Hurl-gate,)— that when we reached it 
the devil would come on board in a stone 
canoe, with an iron paddle, and make a ter- 
rible noise, and that he intended to give us 
to him. I thought all he said was so. I there- 
fore confessed that we were runaways— 
where, and with whom we had lived. He 
said he would take me back to New-London, 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 53 

as my master was rich and would pay him a 
good price. Here the devil prompted me 
to tell a lie. and I replied that the General 
had advertized me one cent reward. He 
then said that he would do nothing" with me 
further than to keep my clothes until we paid 
him. When the vessel reached the dock, 
John slipped off, and I was not slow to fol- 
low. In a few days we got money to redeem 
our clothing; we took board in Cherry- 
street, at two dollars per week ; we soon 
obtained work and received sixty-two and 
a half cents per day. While this continued, 
we had no difficulty in paying our board. My 
mind now became tolerably calm, but in the 
midst of this I ^as greatly alarmed ; as I was 
informed that my master had offered fifteen 
dollars reward for me, and that the captain 
of one of the packets was looking for me. I 
dared not go back, and therefore determined 
to go to Philadelphia ; to this John objected, 
and advised me to go to sea, but I could find 
no vessel. He entered on board a privateer, 
and I was thus left entirely alone in a strange 
city. Wandering about, I fell in company 
with a sergeant and a file of men who were 
enlisting soldiers for the United States army. 
They thought I would answer their purpose, 
but how to get me was the thing. Now they 
began to talk to me, then treated me to 
some spirits and when that began to ope- 



54 A SON OP THE EOREST. 

rate they told me all about the war, and 
what a fine thing it was to be a soldier. I 
was pleased with the idea of being a soldier, 
took some more liquor and some money' 
had a cockade fastened on my hat, and was 
off in high spirits for my uniform. Now my 
enlistment was against the law, but I did not 
know it ; I could not think why I should 
risk my life and limbs in fighting for the 
white man, who had cheated my forefathers 
out of their land. By this time I had ac- 
quired many bad practices. I was sent over 
to Governor's Island, opposite the city, and 
here I remained some time. Too much 
liquor was dealt out to the soldiers, who got 
drunk very often. Indeed the island was 
like a hell upon earth, in consequence of 
the wickedness of the soldiers. I have 
known sober men to enlist, who afterwards 
became confirmed drunkards, and appear 
like fools upon the earth. So it was among 
the soldiers, and what should a child do, who 
was entangled in their net. Now, although 
I made no profession of religion, yet I could 
not bear to hear sacred things spoken of 
lightly, or the sacred name of God blas- 
phemed ; and I often spoke to the soldiers 
about it, and in general they listened atten- 
tively to what I had to say. I did hot tell 
them that I had ever made a profession of 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 55 

religion. In a little time I became almost 
as bad as any of them ; could drink rum 
play cards, and act as wickedly as any. I 
was at times tormented with the thoughts 
of death, but God had mercy on me, and 
spared my life, and for this I feel thankful 
to the present day. Some people are of 
opinion that if a person is once born of the 
Spirit of God he can never fall away entire- 
ly, and because I acted thus, they may pre- 
tend to say that I had not been converted to 
the faith. I believe firmly, that if ever 
Paul was born again, I was ; if not, from 
whence did I derive all the light and happi- 
ness I had heretofore experienced ? To be 
sure it was not to be compared to Paul's — 
but the change I felt in my very soul. 

I felt anxious to obtain forgiveness from 
every person I had injured in any manner 
whatever. Sometimes I thought I would 
write to my old friends and request forgive- 
ness — then I thought I had done right. I 
could not bear to hear any order of Chris- 
tians ridiculed, especially the Methodists — 
it grieved me to the heart. 



56 



A SON OF THE FOREST, 



CHAPTER V. 

It appeared that I had been enlisted for 
a musician, as I was instructed while on the 
Island in beating a drum. In this I took 
much delight. While on the Island I wit- 
nessed the execution of a soldier who was 
shot ^ according to the decision of a court 
martial. Two men had been condemned 
for munity or desertion 5 It is impossible for 
me to describe the feelings of my heart when 
I saw the soldiers parade and the condemned 
clothed in white, with bibles in their hands, 
come forward. The band then struck up the 
dead march, and the procession moved with 
a mournful and measured tread to the place 
of execution, where the poor creatures were 
compelled to kneel on the coffins, which 
were along side two newly dug graves. 
While in this position the chaplain went for- 
ward and conversed with them — after he had 
retired a soldier went up and drew the caps 
over their faces ; thus blindfolded he led one 
of them some distance from the other. An 
officer then advanced, and raised his hand- 
herchief as a signal to the platoon to prepare 
to fire— he then made another for them to 
aim at the wretch who had been left kneeling 
on his coffin, and at a third signal the pla- 
toon fired and the immortal essence of the 
offender in an instant was in the spirit-land- 



A SOX OF THE FOUEST. 



57 



To me this was an awful day — my heart seem- 
ed to leap into my throat. Death never ap- 
peared so awful. But what must have been 
the feelings of the unhappy man, who had so 
narrowly escaped the grave ? He was com- 
pletely overcome, and wept like a child, and 
it was found necessary to help him back to 
his quarters. This spectacle made me seri- 
ous ; but it wore off in a few days 

Shortly after this we were ordered to 
Staten Island, where we remained about two 
months. Then we were ordered to join the 
army destined to conquer Canada. As the 
soldiers were tired of the island, this news 
animated them very much. They thought 
it a great thing to march through the country 
and assist in taking the enemy's land. As 
soon as our things were ready we embarked 
on board a sloop for Albany, and then went 
on to Greenbush, where we were quartered. 
In the meantime I had been transferred to 
the ranks. This I did not like : to carry a 
musket was too fatiguing, and I had a posi- 
tive objection to being placed on the guard, 
especially at night. As I had only enlisted 
for a drummer, I thought that this change 
by the officer was contrary to law, and as 
the bond was broken, liberty was granted 
me ; therefore being heartily tired of a sol- 
dier's life, and having a desire to see my fa- 
ther once more, I went off very deliberately; 



58 A SON OP THE FOREST. 

I had no idea that they had a lawful claim 
on me, and was greatly surprised as well as 
alarmed, when arrested as a deserter from 
the army. Well, I was taken up and carried 
back to the camp, where the officers put me 
under guard. We shortly after marched 
for Canada, and during this dreary march 
the officers tormented me by telling me 
that it was their intention to make a fire in 
the woods, stick my skin full of pine splinters, 
and after having an Indian pow-wow over 
me burn me to death. Thus they torment- 
ed me day after day. 

We halted for some time at Burlington ; 
but resumed our march and went into win- 
ter quarters at Pittsburgh. All this time 
God was very good to me, as I had not a 
sick day. I had by this time become very 
bad. I had previously learned to drink rum, 
play cards and commit other acts of wick- 
edness, but it was here that I first took 
the name of the Lord in vain, and oh, what 
a sting it left behind. We continued here 
until the ensuing fall, when we received or- 
ders to join the main army under Gen. 
Hampton, Another change now took place, 
—we had several pieces of heavy artillery 
with us, and of course horses were necessa- 
ry to drag them, and I was taken from the 
ranks and ordered to take charge of one 
team, This made my situation rather bet- 



A SON OF THE FOKEST. 59 

ter. I now had the privilege of riding. The 
soldiers were badly off, as the officers were 
very cruel to them, and for every little 
offence they would have them flogged; Oiie 
day the officer of our company got angry at 
toe, and pricked my ear with the point of 
his sword. 

We soon joined the main army, and pitch- 
ed our tents with them. It was now very 
cold, and we had nothing but straw to lay 
on. There was also a scarcity of provisions, 
and we were not allowed to draw our full 
rations. Money would not procure food— 
and when any thing was to be obtained the 
officers had always the preference, arid they, 
poor souls, always wanted the whole for 
themselves. The people generally, have no 
idea of the extreme sufferings of the soldiers 
on the frontiers during the last war ; they 
were indescribable, the soldiers eat with the 
utmost greediness raw corn and every thing 
eatable that fell in their way. In the midst 
of our afflictions, our valiant general ordered 
us to march forward to subdue the country 
in a trice. The pioneers had great difficul- 
ty in clearing the way — the enemy retreated 
burning every thing as they fled. They de- 
stroyed every thing, so that we could not 
find forage for the horses. We were now 
cutting our way through a wilderness, and 
were very often benumbed with the cold* 



OU A SOX OF THE FOREST, 

Our sufferings now for the want of food were 
extreme — the officers too began to feel it. 
and one of them offered me two dollars for 
a little flour, but I did opt take this money, 
and he did not get my flour; I would not 
have given it to him for fifty dollars. The 
soldiers united their flower and baked unleav- 
ened bread, of this we made a delicious re- 
past. 

After we had proceeded about thirtv miles, 
we fell in with a body of Canadians and In- 
dians — the woods fairly resounded with their 
yells. Our " brave and chivalrous'' genera] 
ordered a picked troop to disperse^them ; 
we fired but one cannon and a retreat was 
sounded to the great mortification of the 
soldiers who were ready and willin cr to fig'ht. 
But as our genera] did not fancy, the smell 
of gunpower, he thought it best to close the 
campaign, by retreating with seven thousand 
men. before a "host" of seven hundred. 
Thus were many a poor fellow's hopes of 
conquest and glory blasted by the timidity of 
one man. This little brush with an en em v 
that we could have crushed in a single mo- 
ment cost us several men in killed and 
wounded. The army now fell back on 
Pittsburgh, where we remained during the 
winter; we suffered greatly for the want of 
barracks, having to encamp in the open 
fields a good part of the time. My health. 



A SON OF THE FOSEST. 



61 



through the goodness of God, was preserved, 
notwithstanding many of the poor soldiers 
sickened and died. So fast did they go off, 
that it appeared to me as if the plague was 
raging among them. 

When the spring opened, we were em- 
ployed in building forts. We erected three 
in a very short time. We soon received 
orders to march, and joined the army under 
Gen. Wilkinson, to reduce Montreal. We 
marched to Odletown in great splendour, 
" Heads up and eyes right," with a noble 
commander at our head, and the splendid 
city of Montreal in our view. The city no 
doubt presented a scene of the wildest 
uproar and confusion ; the people were 
greatly alarmed as we moved on with all 
the pomp and glory of an army flushed with 
many victories. But when we reached 
Odletown, John Bull met us with a picked 
troop. They soon retreated, and some took 
refuge in an old fortified mill, which we 
pelted with a goodly number of cannon balls. 
It appeared as if w 7 e were determined to 
sweep every thing before us. It was really 
amusing to see our feminine general with 
his night-cap on his head, and a dishcloth 
tied round his precious body, crying out to 
his men "Come on, my brave boys, we will 
give John Bull a bloody nose." W r e did 
not succeed in taking the mill, and the 
6 



€3 A SON OP THE FOREST. 

British kept up an incessant cannonade from 
the fort. Some of the balls cut down the 
trees, so that we had frequently to spring out 
of their way when falling. I thought it w as 
a hard time, and I had reason too, as I was 
in the front of the battle, assisting in working 
a twelve pounder, and the British aimed 
directly at us. Their balls whistled around 
us, and hurried a good many of the soldiers 
into the eternal world, while others were 
most horribly mangled* Indeed they were 
so hot upon us, that we had not time to re- 
move the dead as they fell. The horribly 
disfigured bodies of the dead — the piercing 
groans of the wounded and the dying — the 
cries for help and succour from those who 
could not help themselves — were most ap- 
palling. I can never forget it. We con- 
tinued fighting till near sundown, when 
a retreat was sounded along our line, and 
instead of marching forward to Montreal, we 
wheeled about, and having once set our 
faces towards Plattsburgh, and turned our 
backs ingloriously on the enemy, we hurried 
off with all possible speed. We carried our 
dead and wounded with us. Oh, it was a 
dreadful sight to behold so many brave men 
sacrificed in this manner. In this way our 
campaign closed. During the whole of this 
time the Lord was merciful to me, as I was 
not suffered to be hurt. We once more 



A SOy OF THE FOEEST. 63 

reached Pittsburgh, and pitched our tents 
in the neighbourhood. While here, intelli- 
gence of the capture of Washington was re- 
ceived. Now, says the orderly sergeant, the 
British have burnt up all the papers at Wash- 
ington, and our enlistment for the war among 
them, we had better give in our names as 
having enlisted for five years. 

We were again under marching orders, as 
the enemy it was thought contemplated an 
attack on Pittsburgh. - Thither we moved 
without delay, aid were posted in one of 
the forts. By the time we were ready for 
them, the enemy made his appearance on 
Lake Champlain, with his vessels of war. 
It was a fine thing to see their noble vessels 
moving like things of life upon this mindc 
sea. with their streamers floating in the wind. 
This armament was intended to co-operate 
with the army, which numbered fourteen 
thousand men, under the command of the 
captain general of Canada, and at that ve^ry 
time in view of our troops. They pre- 
sented a very imposing aspect. Their red 
uniform, and the instruments of death which 
they bore in their hands, glittered in the sun 
beams of heaven, like so many sparkling 
diamonds. Very fortunately for us and for 
the country, a brave and noble commander 
was placed at the head of the army. It was 
not an easy task to frighten him. For not* 



O-i A SON OF THE FOREST. 

withstanding his men were inferior in point 
of number to those of the enemy, say as one 
to seven, yet relying on the bravery of his 
men, he determined to fight to thelast ex- 
tremity. The enemy in all the pomp and 
pride of war, had sat down before the town 
and its slender fortifications, and commenced 
a cannonade, which we returned without 
much ceremony. Congreve rockets, bomb 
shells, and cannon balls, poured upon us 
like a fiail storm. There was scarcely any 
intermission, and for six days and nights 
we did not leave our guns, and during that 
time the work of death paused not, as every 
day some shot took effect. During the en- 
gagement, I had charge of a small magazine. 
All this time our fleet, under the command 
of the gallant M'Donough, was lying on the 
peaceful waters of Charnplain. But this little 
fleet was to be taken, or destroyed : it was 
necessary, in the accomplishment of their 
plans. Accordingly the British commander 
bore down on our vessels in gallant style. 
As soon as the enemy showed fight, our men 
flew to their guns. Then the work of death 
and carnage commenced. The adjacent 
shores resounded with the alternate shouts 
of the sons of liberty, and the groans of their 
parting spirits. A cloud of smoke mantled 
the heavens, shutting out the light of day- 
while the continual roar of artillery, added 



A SON OF THE FOUEST. 0 1 1 

to tlie sublime horrors of the scene. At 
length the boasted valour of the haughty 
Britons failed them— they quailed before the 
incessant and well directed fire of our brave 
and hardv tars, and after a hard fought battle, 
surrendered to that foe they had been sent 
to crush. On land the battle raged pretty 
fiercely. On our side the Green Mountain 
boys behaved with the greatest bravery. As 
soon as the British commander had seen the 
fleet tall into the hands of the Americans, his 
boasted courage forsook him, and he ordered 
his army of heroes, fourteen thousand strong, 
to retreat before a handful of militia. 

This was indeed a proud clay for our coun- 
try. We had met a superior force on the 
Lake, and - they were ours.*' On land we 
had compelled the enemy to seek safety in 
Bight Our army did not lose many men, 
but on the lake many a brave man fell— fell 
in the defence of his country's rights. The 
British moved off about sundown. 

We remained in Pittsburgh until the 
peace. As soon as it was known that the 
war had terminated, and the army disbanded, 
the soldiers were clamorous for their dis- 
charge, but it was concluded to retain our 
company in the service — I, however, ob- 
tained my release. Now, according to the 
act of enlistment, I was entitled to forty 
dollars bounty money, and one hundred and 
«* 



Dt> A SON OF THE FOREST. 

sixty acres of land. The government also 
owed me for fifteen months pay. I have not 
seen any thing of bounty money, land, or 
arrearages, from that day to this. I am not, 
however, alone in this— hundreds were served 
in the same manner. But I could never 
think that the government acted right towards 
the "Natives," not merely in refusing to pay 
us, but in claiming our services in cases of 
perilous emergency, and still deny us the right 
of citizenship ; and as long as our nation is 
debarred the privilege of voting for civil of- 
ficers, I shall believe that the government 
has no claim on our services. 



CHAPTER VI. 

No doubt there are many good people 
in the United States, who would not trample 
upon the rights of the poor, but there are 
many others who are willing to roll in their 
coaches upon the tears and blood of the poor 
and unoffending natives — those who are 
ready at all times to speculate on the Indians, 
and defraud them out of their rightful posses- 
sions. Let the poor Indian attempt to resist 
the encroachments of his white neighbours, 
what a hue and cry is instantly raised against 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



67 



him. It has been considered as a trifling 
thing for the whites to make war on the In- 
dians for the purpose of driving them from 
their country, and taking possession thereof. 
This was, in their estimation, all right, as it 
helped to extend the territory, and enriched 
some individuals. But let the thing be 
changed. Suppose an overwhelming army 
should march into the United States, for the 
purpose of subduing it, and enslaving the 
citizens ; how quick would they fly to arms, 
gather in multitudes around the tree of liberty, 
and contend for their rights with the last 
drop of their blood. And should the enemy 
succeed, would they not eventually rise and 
endeavour to regain liberty ? And who would 
blame them for it? 

When I left the army, I had not a shilling 
in my pocket. I depended upon the pre- 
carious bounty of the inhabitants, until I 
reached the place where some of my breth- 
ren dwelt. I tarried with them but a short 
time, and then set off for Montreal. I was 
anxious, in some degree, to become steady, 
and went to learn the business of a baker. 
My bad habits now overcome my good in- 
tentions. I was addicted to drinking rum, 
and would sometimes get quite intoxicated. 
As it was my place to carry out the bread, I 
frequently fell in company, and one day, 
being in liquor, I met one of the king's sol« 



68 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

diers, and after abusing him with my tongue, 
I gave him a sound flogging. In the course 
of the affair I broke a pitcher which the 
soldier had, and as I had to pay for it, I was 
wicked enough to take my master's money, 
without his knowledge, for that purpose. 
My master liked me, but he thought if I 
acted so once, I would a second time, and 
he very properly discharged me, I was now 
placed in a bad situation — by my miscon- 
duct, I had lost a good home ! I went and 
hired myself to a farmer, for four dollars per 
month. After serving him two months, he 
paid me, and with the money I bought some 
decent clothes. By spells, I was hired as a 
servant, but this kind of a life did not suit 
me, and I wished to return to my brethren. 
My mind changed, and I went up the St. 
Lawrence to Kingston, where I obtained a 
situation on board of a sloop, in the capacitv 
of a cook, at twelve dollars per month. I 
w as on board the vessel some time, and when 
we settled, the captain cheated me out of 
twelve dollars. My next move was in the 
country; I agreed to serve a merchant faith- 
fully, and he promised to give me twelve 
dollars a month. Every thing went on 
smooth for a season ; at last I became negli- 
gent and careless, in consequence of his 
.g'mng me a pint of rum every day, which 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



69 



was the allowance he made for each person 
in his employment. 

While at this place, I attended a Metho- 
dist meeting — at the time I felt very much 
affected, as it brought up before my mind 
the great and indescribable enjoyments I had 
found in the house of prayer, when I was 
endeavouring to serve the Lord. It soon 
wore off, and I relapsed into my former bad 
habits. 

I now went again into the country, and 
staid with a farmer, for one month, he paid 
me five dollars. Then I shifted my quar- 
ters to another place and agreed with a 
Dutch farmer to stay with him all winter at 
five dollars a month. With this situation I 
was much pleased. My work was light — I 
had very little to do except procuring fire- 
wood. I often went with them on hunting 
excursions, besides, my brethren were all 
around me, and it therefore seemed like 
home. I was now in the bay of Quinty, 
the scenery was diversified. There were 
also some natural curiosities. On the very 
top of a high mountain in the neighbourhood 
there was a large pond of water, to which 
there was no visible outlet ; — this pond was 
unfathomable. It was very surprising to 
me that so great a body of water should be 
found so far above the common level of the 
earth. There was also in the neighbour- 



70 A SON OF THE FOKEST. 

hood a rock, that had the appearance of 
being hoilowed out by the hand of a skilful 
artmcer ; through this rock wound a narrow 
stream of water: it had a most beatiful and 
romantic appearance, and I could not but 
aamire the wisdom of God in the order, re- 
gularity and beauty of creation ; I then 
turned my eyes to the forest and it seemed 
am-e with its sons and daughters. There 
appeared to be the utmost order and regula- 
rity in their encampment. 

Oh what a pity that this state of things 
should change. How much better would it 
be if the whites would act like a civilized 
people, and instead of giving mv brethren of 
the woods " iutD.W in exchange for their 
furs, give them food and clothing for them- 
selves and children. If this course were 
pursued, I believe that God would bless both 
the whites and natives three fold. I am 
bold to aver that the minds of the natives 
were turned against the gospel and soured to- 
wards_ the whites because some of the mis- 
sionaries have joined the unholy brethren in 
speculations to the advantage of themselves 
regardless of the rights, feelings and interests 
of the untutored sons of the forest. If a 
good missionary goes among them, and 
preaches the pure doctrine of tbe gospel, he 
must necessarily tell them that they must 



A 9&S OF THE FOREST* 71 

ieve (rod and their neighbour as themselves 
— to love men ? deal justly, and walk hum- 
bly." They would naturally reply, your 
doctrine is very good, but the whole course 
of your conduct is decidedly at variance 
with your profession— we think the whites 
need fully as much religious instruction as 
we do. In this way many a good man's 
path is hedged up, and he is prevented from 
being useful among the natives, in conse- 
quence of the bad conduct of those who are 
properly speaking only " wolves in sheep's 
clothing." However, the natives are on the 
whole willing to receive the gospel, and of 
late, through the instrumentality of pious 
missionaries, much good has been done- 
many of them have been reclaimed from the 
most abandoned and degrading practices, 
and brought to a knowledge of the truth as 
it is in Jesus ! 



CHAPTER VII, 

By many persons great objections have 
been raised against efforts to civilize the na^- 
tives — rthey alledge that they have tried the 
experiment and failed. But how did they 
make the experiment, and why did they fail ? 



7:2 



A SOU OF THE FOREST. 



We may with perfect safety say that these 
persons were prompted to the* efforts they 
made by sinister motives, and they failed, 
because they undertook that in their own 
strength, which nothing short of the power 
of God could efiect. A most sweeping 
charge has been brought against the natives 
— a charge which has no foundation in truth. 
It is this, that they are not susceptible of im- 
provement ; now subsequent facts have 
proved that this assertion is false. Let us 
look around us and what do we behold ? 
The forests of Canada and the west are vo- 
cal with the praises of God, as they ascend 

from the happy wigwams of the natives. 

We see them flocking to the standard of 
Emmanuel. Many of them have been con- 
verted to God, and have died in the triumphs 
of faith. Our religious papers have, from 
time to time, recorded the blessed effects of 
the divine spirit — of the strong faith of the 
expiring Indian. The hopes of the Chris- 
tian have been elevated, and there is every 
thing to cheer and encourage the followers 
of the Lamb in so good and noble a cause. 

Some people make this charge against the 
natives, who never knew any thing about 
religion, and I fancy that it would be as diffi- 
cult for any man who lives in a state of 
voluptuousness, to get to heaven by his own 
strength as it would be for a native. The 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 73 

Methodists have perhaps done more towards 
enlightening the poor Indians and bringing 
them to a knowledge of the truth than all 
other societies together. I do not say that 
they did it of their own strength ; but, that 
they were the happy instruments in the 
hands of the Lord Jesus, in accomplishing 
that which others have failed in performing, 
as they (the Methodists) relyed altogether 
on the blessing of God. They preached not 
themselves, but Christ Jesus,— and him 
crucified : And while they were doing this, 
they sought not their own advancement. 
And no wonder that they succeeded— the 
natives were melted down into tenderness 
and love, and they became as kind and obli- 
ging as any people could be. 

It is my opinion that our nation retains 
the original complexion of our common fa- 
ther, Adam. This is strongly impressed on 
my mind. I think it is very reasonable, and 
in this opinion I am not singular, as some of 
the best writers of the age, among whom we 
find a Clinton, a Bouclmot, a West, and a 
Hinds, have expressed their sentiments in its 
favour. But to return. 

In the spring the old gentleman set us to 
making maple sugar. This took us into the 
M-oods, which were vocal with the songs of 
the birds ; all nature seemed to smile and re- 
joice in the freshness and beauty of spring. 



'4 A SON OP THE FOREST. 

My brethren appeared very cheerful on ac- 
count of its return, and enjoyed themselves 
in hunting, fishing, basket making, & c . 
After we had done making sugar, I fold the 
old gentleman I wished to go and see my 
friends in the east, as I had been absent 
about three years : he consented though he 
wished me to tarry longer with him. I then 
went to Kingston, where I fell into bad com- 
pany, with drunkards— they were friends as 
long as my money held out. But when that 
tailed, their friendship turned to enmity. 
1 bus all my money was gone and I was alone 
and destitute in a strange place. I went to live 
with a man for a while, but had not been 
with him but a few days before I found much 
trouble in the wigwam. The lady of the 
house was a lady indeed; when she went to ■ 
bed she could not get up without assistance, 
and very often her husband would mourn 
over her and say what a wretch he had been 
ever since he had married her. She was 
very intemperate, and here I saw the evil 
of ardent spirits. They soon after broke 
up housekeeping, and I of course lost my 
place. I had not refrained from my evil 
practices, and some of my wicked comoa- 
mons advised me to steal for a living, but* as 
1 had no inclination to rob any one, I had 
prudence and firmness to resist the tempta- 
tion. Those who advised me to do so were 



A SOS OF THE FOREST. 

not my brethren, but whites. My eyes 
were now opened to see my pretended 
friends in their true light, I concluded that 
such friends were not useful to me, and I 
was awakened to reflection, and determined 
to leave their society. 

One sabbath as I was passing by a chapel, 
I h?ard a good man of God giving good ad- 
vice to his" people. He earnestly exhorted 
them to faithfulness and prayer. I went in, 
and while listening to his fervent discourse, 
all my promises of reformation rose up be- 
fore me. I was very much affected — my 
spirit was troubled, and I began to think 
seriously about my situation. The next 
day I sat down in the sun to sun myself, 
and to consider as to my future course, as I 
found I was friendless, without money, and 
without work, The desire of my heart Was 
to get home ; while reflecting on this, to me 
important subject, it appeared as if God was 
working for me, as four boatmen about go- 
ing on a hunting and fishing excursion, came 
to^purchase stores. I asked them if I should 
go with them — they wished to know where 
I was going, and I told them I was willing 
to go any where. One of them hiVed me 
to fish, and I went with them; the time 
passed rapidly on and I felt as happy as ^ a 
king. We had very little rum, and that lit- 
tle we found abundantly sufficient. By de- 



tO A SON OP THE FOREST, 

grees 1 recovered iny appetite. I was with. 
these good men upwards of a month, part of 
which time we spent in fishing, and part in 
hunting deer. They then returned to see 
their families, taking me with them. The 
one who had hired me to fish, when I told 
him that I wished to go home, acted like a 
gentleman, and paid me my wages. After 
purchasing a pair of shoes, I had only one 
shilling left. I now started for home a dis- 
tance of more than three hundred miles. This 
was a long journey to perform alone, and 
on foot. But thank God I found friends- 
many who were willing to supply me with 
food, and render me assistance/ I had no 
difficulty until i reached Utica, where I lost 
my shilling. — I was now pennyless* Fortu- 
nately I agreed with the captain of a boat to 
work my passage down the Mohawk river. 
In this way I got along some distance, When 
I left the boat I had to beg or work, as answer- 
ed my purpose best, as I was extremely 
anxious to get home, therefore I preferred the 
shortest method. But nevertheless I refused 
not to work : but unfortunately the people in 
this part of the country seeing I was an 
Indian took but little notice of me. I was 
also exposed to some temptations, as I met 
often in the road the veriest wretches that 
defile the earth — such as would forget the 
dignity of human nature so far as to black- 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 77 

;uard me because I was an Indian. A son 
jf the forest would never stoop so low as to 
offer such an insult to a stranger who happen- 
ed to be amongst them. I was much mortified, 
and believing that they ought to be corrected 
for so flagrant a breach of good manners 
and " civilization," I thought seriously in one 
or two instances of inflicting summary pun- 
ishment; but this feeling gave way to that of 
pity. It appeared to me as if they had not 
the sense and wisdom of the brute creation. 

When I reached Albany, the bells were 
tolling. The solemn sound entered into the 
deepest recesses of my soul, pressed down 
as it were with a multitude of sorrows. It 
appeared to be a very solemn time. They 
were engaged in depositing the mortal re- 
mains of a man in the narrow and darksome 
grave, who had been killed the day before 
by a stroke of lightning. O, how thankful 
I felt that I had not been taken oflf instead of 
that man. I immediately went to Hoosack, 
passing through the pleasant town of Troy. 
I was now about one hundred miles from 
home, and not having clothes suitable for 
the season, I concluded to go to work in 
order to get such as would answer to make 
my appearance in at home. So I began to 
make enquiries for work, and come across 

one Esquire Haviland, who engaged me to 
7 # 



A SOX OF THE FOREST. 

help him the remainder of the season, r 
eight dollars per month. He treated m* 
with the utmost kindness; he took me to 
church to hear the word of God, dressed me 
up in good clothes, and took the best care 
of me while I remained with them. When 
I left them, instead of going home, as I In- 
tended, I steered my course for Old Hart- 
ford, where I fell in with some of the rough 
people of the world, and made a halt. /J 
again listened to the advice of the wicked, 
and turned aside from the path of virtue. I 
soon agreed to go to sea with one of my new 
comrades, but we could not ship ourselves. 
I now got to drinking too much of the ac- 
cursed liquor again. As we failed in our 
project at Hartford, we started for New- 
'en, where I abandoned the notion of 
going to sea, and went to work, and all I got 
for two months labour was a pair of pan- 
taloons. I thought surely, that these were 
hard times. Winter was now coming on 
apace, and as I had very little clothing. I 
had to do the best I could. I saw fhe im- 
propriety of keeping bad company, and I 
must m this respect acknowledge that I was 
a very fool, and only a half-witted Indian— 
the Lord had often warned me of my danger, 
and I was advised of the evil consequences 
by those who I believe were concerned for 
my welfare here and hereafter. 



A SON OF THE POHEST. 79 

In the spring I had good clothes, and with- 
al looked 'very decent, so I thought that I 
would make another effort to reach my home. 
In my journey, being in the land of steady 
habits, 1 found the people very benevolent 
and kind. I experienced but very little 
difficulty on the way, and at last I arrived in 
safety at the home of my childhood. ^ At 
first my people looked upon me as one risen 
from the dead. Not having heard from me 
since I left home, being more than four years, 
they thought I must certainly have died, and 
the days of mourning had almost passed. 
They w ere rejoiced to see me once more in 
the land of the living, and I was equally re- 
joiced to find all my folks alive. The whites 
with whom I had been acquainted were also 
very glad to see me. After I had spent some 
time with my relations in Groton, and visited 
all my old friends, I concluded to go to work 
and be steady. Accordingly I hired myself 
to a Mr. Geers, for a month or two. I served 
him faithfully, but when I wanted my pay, 
he undertook to treat me as he would a de- 
graded African slave, he took a cart-stake in 
order to pay me ; but he soon found out his 
mistake, as 1 made him put it down as quick 
as he had taken it up. I had been cheated 
so often that I determined to have my rights 
this time, and forever after. 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



I was now about nineteen years of age, 
and had become quite steady. I attended 
meetings again quite often, and my mind 
was powerfully wrought upon. At this time 
my heart was susceptible of good impres- 
sions. I would think upon the varied scenes 
of my life — how often the Lord had called 
me, and how for a season I attended to that 
call — of the blessed and happy times I had 
experienced in the house of God, and in 
secret devotion ; and the days of darkness 
and nights of sorrowful anguish, since those 
days when the spirit of God breathed upon 
my soul. Then, I enjoyed happiness in a 
pre-eminent degree ! Now, I was miserable, 
I had offended God — violated his laws — 
abused his goodness — trampled his mercy 
under foot, and disregarded his admonitions. 
But still he called me back to the path of 
duty and of peace. I was pressed down by 
a load of shame, and a weight of guilt too 
intolerable to be borne. Hour after hour, 
and day after day, did I endeavour to lift my 
heart to God, to implore forgiveness of my 
sins, and grace to enable me to lay hold of 
the promise to the vilest of the vile/ through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. But the Holy Spirit 



A SON OP THE FORESTi 8f* 

flew not to my relief. I then thought that I 
must die and go to hell. 

My convictions were so powerful that I 
could scarcely eat. I had no relish for food. 
The anguish of my. soul afflicted my body to 
such a degree that I was almost too weak to 
perform my labour. Sleep seldom visited 
my eyelids. My employer found out that the 
Lord was teaching me, but he made light of 
it, and said he was going to heaven across 
the lots. I thought he might go that way, 
but for my part, I must take another course* 
May the Lord forgive him, and teach him the 
good and the right way. By this time my 
employer had become good to me, and as I 
wished to engage elsewhere for six months, 
my time being out with him, he gave me a 
recommendation. 

One of the neighbours wished me to join 
w r ith him six months, so we agreed. They 
treated me as a brother. But my sins 
troubled me so much that I had no comfort. 
My soul was weighed down on account of 
my many transgressions, and I was tempted 
by the enemy of souls to believe that I had 
committed the unpardonable sin — but he 
was a liar, as the sequel proved, for after 
many prayers, and groans, and tears,, and 
sighs, I found some relief. This, at the time* 
astonished me, as I was one of the vilest sin- 
ners on the face of tfre earth. Now I think 



82 



A SON OF THE FOKEST. 



the devil took advantage of me in this man- 
ner. I have heretofore stated that I asso- 
ciated with bad company, with such persons 
as often profaned the holy name of God. I 
always disliked to hear any one swear, but 
one day when I was angry, I swore a horrid 
oath, and the very instant that it passed my 
lips, my heart beat like the pendulum of a 
clock, my conscience roared despair and 
horror like thunder, and I thought I was 
going to be damned right off. I gave utter- 
ance to the word without thinking what I 
was doing; it could not be recalled, and 
afterwards I thought I would not have said 
it for all the world. This was the first and 
the last time that I ever used so awful an 
expression, and I thought this of itself suffi- 
cient to sink my soul to the shades of ever- 
lasting night. Now the way in which the 
devil took the advantage of me was this. 
Whenever I became fervent in my supplica- 
tions at the throne of mercy for pardon on 
my guilty soul, he would try to persuade me 
that I had in uttering the oath referred to 
forever closed the door of hope. 

I still continued to pray and attend meet- 
ings, notwithstanding the work was veiy 
hard, and the meeting seven miles off; but 
I did not neglect attending it a single sab- 
bath during the summer. I generally re- 



A SON OF THE FOXIEST. 53 

turned as I went, with a heavy heart. I 
now went to a camp meeting/ but did not 
experience that depth of enjoyment which I 
desired. Being determined to persevere in 
tne way of well doing, I united with the 
Methodist Society, that is, on trial, for six 
months. I had never been at a camp-meet- 
ing, and of course, knew nothing about it 
« far exceeded my expectationsr I never 
witnessed so great a body of christians as- 
sembled together before— I was also aston- 
ished with their proceedings- was affected 
by their prayers— charmed by their sou rs 0 f 
praise, and stood gazing at them like a brain- 
less clown. However, I soon solicited the 
prayers of this body of christians, for my 
poor soul was greatly troubled. But behold 
one ol the brethren called on me to pray' 
1 began to make excuse, but nothing- would 
co; he said, pray, and I thought I must I 
trembled through fear, and began to wish 
myself at home; 1 soon got on my knees 
and 01 all the prayers that man ever heard' 
this attempt must have exceeded— I fp a r-d 
man more than my creator God. While en- 
daavourh-jg to pray, it appeared as it my 
words would choak me— the cold chills in 
over my body—my feelings were indescri- 
bably awful. This, however, had a very 
good effect upon me, as it learned me not 



§4 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

to please man so much as God. The camp 
meeting was a very happy one, I found some 
comfort, and enjoyed myself tolerably well. 
'The parting scene was very affecting — 
serious thoughts passed through my mind, 
as I gazed oh this large number of respec- 
table and happy people, who were about to 
separate, and meet not together again till the 
blast of the archangel's "trump shall bring 
them in a twinkling to the judgment seat oi 
Christ. And so it was, for we have never 
met altogether again — some have taken their 
everlasting flight. 

When I returned home, I began to tell the 
fatoily all about the camp meeting, what a 
blessed time we had, tec. but they ridiculed 
me, saying, we were only deluded. I at- 
tempted to exhort them to seek an interest in 
the sinner's friend, but to no purpose, as they 
onlv laughed at me. 

When the time for which I engaged had 
expired, I went among my tribe at Groton. 
I lived this winter with my aunt, who was 
comfortably situated. She was the hand- 
maid of the Lord, and being a widow, she 
rented her lands to the whites, and it brought 
her in enough to live on. While here we 
had some very good times. Once in four 
weeks we had 1 meeting, which was attended 
by people from Rhode Island, Stonmgtom 



A SOX OF THE FORESf. S3 

and other places, and generally lasted three 
days. These seasons were glorious, We 
observed particular forms, although we knew 
nothing about the dead languages, except 
that the knowledge thereof was not neces- 
sary for us to serve God. We had no house 
of divine worship, and believing 

M That the groves were God's first temples," 

thither we would repair when the weather 
permitted. The Lord often met with us, 
and we were happy in spite of the devil* 
Whenever we separated it was in perfect 
love and friendship. 

My aunt could not read, but she could 
almost preach, and in her feeble manner, 
endeavour to give me much instruction. 
Poor dear woman, her body slumbers in the 
grave, but her soul is in the paradise of 
God— she has escaped from a world of 
trouble. The whites were anxious to have 
the honour of burying her : she was interred 
very decently, the whites being as numerous 
as the natives. Indeed, all who knew her 
wished to show the veneration in which they 
held her, by following her remains to their 
last eirMy resting place. Her name was 
Sally George, and she was deservedly es- 
teemed for her piety. In her sphere she 
8 



SO A SO^ OF THE FOREST. 

was a very useful woman, and gxeatly be- 
loved by all who knew her. She was very 
attentive to the sick, kind to the unfortunate, 
good and benevolent to the poor and the 
fatherless. She would often pour into the 
ear of the sin-sick soul, the graciously reviv- 
ing promises of the gospel" While she lay 
sick, she expresed a desire to go and see 
her brethren, who lived about eight miles 
off; she said the Lord would give her 
strength, and so he did. She then visited 
her friends, and after enjoying some religi- 
ous conversation, she returned home to die. 
The fear of death was now taken away, and 
she exhorted all around her to be faithful, 
and serve the Lord. She died in the full 
triumphs of the faith, on the 6th of May, 
1824, aged 45 years. In her death, happy 
as it was, the church had sustained an almost 
irreparable loss. But 

" She bathes her weary soul, 
In seas of heavenly Test 
Where not a wave of trouble rolls. 
Across her peaceful breast. 55 

The next season I engaged with a Mi% 
Wright in the same neighbourhood, and con- 
tinued with him some time. While there I 
did wrong, as I got angry at the mistress of 
the house, who by the by, was an extremely 
passionate woman, and uttered some" un- 



A SON OF THE FOEEST. 



87 



guarded expressions. I found I had done 
wrong, and instantly made my humble con- 
fession to Almighty God, and also to my 
brethren, and obtained forgiveness. I con- 
tinued to attend meeting, and had many 
blessed times. The spirit of the Lord moved 
upon my heart, and I thought it to be my 
duty to call sinners to repentance. It was 
determined to have another camp meeting 
this season, and brother Hyde preached a 
preparatory sermon from this portion of di- 
vine truth — " By night, on my bed, 1 sought 
him whom my soul loveth : I sought him but 
I found him not. I will rise now, and go 
about the city ; in the streets, and in the broad 
ways, I will seek him whom my soul loveth : 
I sought him but I found him not. The v:atch- 
men that go about the city found me : to 
whom I said, saw ye him whom my soul loveth ? 
It was but a little that I passed from them, 
hut I found him whom my soul loveth : I held 
him and would not let him go, until I had 
brought him to my mothers house, and unto 
the chamber of her that had conceived me. I 
charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, 
by the roes and by thehinds of the f eld, that 
ye stir not up, nor awake my love till he 
pleased — Solomon's Songs, iii, 1. 5. 

After brother Hyde had concluded his 
sermon, I felt moved to rise and speak. I 
trembled at the thought ; but believing it a 



88 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

duty required of me by my heavenly father^ 
I could not disobey, and in rising to dis- 
charge this sacred obligation, I found all im- 
pediment of speech removed ; my heart was 
enlarged ; my soul glowed with holy fervour, 
and the blessing of the Almighty sanctified 
this my first public attempt to warn sinners of 
their danger and invite them to the marriage 
supper of the Lamb. I was now in my pro- 
per element, just harnessed for the work, with 
the fire of divine love burning on my heart. 
In this frame of mind I went to camp meet- 
ing, and here the presence of the Lord was. 
made manifest — his gracious spirit was pour- 
ed out upon the people, and while he was pre- 
sent to cheer and bless his followers, his 
awakening power sought out the sinner and 
nailed conviction on his heart. Oh, it was a 
joyful scene. Here were the followers of the 
Lord praising him in strains of the liveliest 
joy — there the broken hearted mourner shed- 
ding tears of penitential sorrow over the long 
black catalogue of his offences. Many a gra- 
cious shower of divine mercy fell on the en- 
campment— man y a hitherto drooping plant 
revived, and many a desolate and ruined hearty 
was made the home of new, and happy, and 
heavenly feelings. I have reason to believe 
that at least one hundred sinners were re- 
claimed at this meeting, while many went 
away with their heads bowed down under a 



A SOX OF THE TOEEST. S9 

sense of their numerous transgressions. 
Shortly after this meeting, I felt it my duty 
to observe the ordinance of baptism by 
immersion, believing it as a scriptural doc- 
trine. There were three other candidates 
for this ordinance ; which was administered 
by Rev. Mr. Barnes, at a place called Bozra, 
in the month of December, 1818. It was a 
very solemn, affecting and profitable time ; 
the Lord in truth was present to bless. 

Shortly after this I felt a desire to see my 
family connexions again, and therefore left 
this part of the country, after obtaining a 
certificate of my standing in society, &c, as 
is generally done by Methodists when they 
remove from one place to another. Nothing 
worthy of special notice occurred during my 
journey, except losing my way one night. It 
happened in this manner ; — having reached 
the neighbourhood of my father's residence 
about sun down, and being extremely 
anxious to complete my journey, I concluded 
to continue on, as I expected to reach his 
house by two o'clock in the morning. Un- 
fortunately I took the wrong road and was led 
into a swamp. I thought I was not far from 
the main road as I fancied that I heard teams 
passing on the other side of the swamp; and 
not being aware of the dangerous situation 
in which I was placed, I penetrated into the 
labyrinth of darkness with the hope of gain- 
8* 



00 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

ing the main road. At every step I beeame 
more and more entangled — the thickness of 
the branches above me shut out the little 
light afforded by the starg, and to my horror 

1 found that the further I went the deeper 
the mire ; at last I was brought to a dead 
stand. I had found it necessary to feel my 
way with a stick — now it failed in striking 
on solid ground ; fortunately in groping about 
I found a pole, which I suppose must have 
been twelve or fifteen feet long, and thrust- 
ing it in, met with no better success. I 
was now amazed ; what to do I knew not ; 
shut out from the light of heaven — surround- 
ed by appalling darkness- — standing on un- 
certain ground — and having proceeded so 
far, that to return, if, possible were as "dan- 
gerous as to go over." This was the hour 
of peril— I could not call for assistance on 
my fellow creatures ; there was no mortal 
ear to listen to my cry. I was shut out from ' 
the world, and did not know but that I should 
perish there, and my fate forever remain a 
mystery to my friends. I raised my heart 
in humble prayer and supplication to the fa- 
ther of mercies, and heboid he stretched 
forth his hand and delivered me from this 
place of danger. Shortly after I had prayed 
the Lord to set me free, I found a small 
piece of solid earth, and then another, so 
that after much difficulty, I succeeded in 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



91 



once more placing my. feet upon dry ground. 
I then fell upon my knees and thanked my 
blessed master for this singular interposition 
of his providence and mercy. As this cir- 
cumstance occasioned so much delay, and 
withal fatigued me so much I did not reach 
home until daylight. I found my father 
well, and all the family rejoiced to see me. 
On this occasion I had an opportunity of 
making some remarks to the friends who 
came to see me. My father who was a 
member of the Baptist church, was much 
pleased, and what was far better, we had a 
time of refreshing from the presence of the 
Lord. I now agreed with my father to tar- 
ry with him all winter, and he agreed to 
learn me how to make shoes. — In this new 
business I made some progress. 



CHAPTER IX. 

I was now very constant in attending 
meetings — in the neighbourhood there was a 
small class of Methodists, firmly united to 
each other ; I cast in my lot with this little 
band, and had many precious seasons. They 
agreed in all points of doctrine but one, and 
that related to perfect love — some said it was 
inconsistent, and another said it was not. I 



92 



A SON OF THE FOREST, 



could not see wherein this inconsistency 
manifested itself, as we were commanded to 
love God with all our hearts, and contend for 
that faith once delivered, to the saints. 

While in Colreign the Lord moved upon 
my heart in a peculiarly powerful manner, 
and by it I was led to believe that I was cal- 
led to preach the gospel of our Lord and 
Saviour Jesus Christ. In the present day, a 
great variety of opinion prevails respecting 
the holy work. We read in the bible that in 
former days, holy men spoke as they were 
moved by the Holy Ghost. I think this is 
right, and believe more in the validity of 
such a call than in all the calls that ever is- 
sued from any body of men united. My ex- 
ercises were great — my soul was pained 
when the Lord placed before me the depra- 
vity of human nature. — I commenced search- 
ing the scriptures more diligently, and the 
more I read, the more they opened to my 
understanding ; and something said to me, 
"go now and warn the people to flee from 
the wrath to come!" and I began immedi- 
ately to confer with flesh and blood, excusing 
myself, saying, Lord I cannot. I was 
nothing but a poor ignorant Indian, and 
thought the people would not hear me. But 
my mind was the more distressed, and I be- 
gan to pray more frequently to God to let 
this "cup pass from me." In this manner 



A OF THE FOREST. 



93 



was I exercised day by day; but in the eve- 
ning I would find myself in our little meetings 
exhorting sinners to repentance, and striving 
to comfort the saints. On these occasions I 
had the greatest liberty. Now I did not ac- 
quaint my brethren with my feelings or exer- 
cises, for the devil tempted me to believe 
that they would take no notice of it. At 
length the spell that bound me was broken. 
I dreamt one night that I was about taking a 
journey, that my road lay through a miry 
place, in a dark and dreary way. It was 
with no little difficulty that I descended the 
steep. Then I beheld at some distance be- 
fore me a large plain, on which the sun 
shone with perfect brightness, and when I 
succeeded in reaching this plain, all at once 
an angel of the blessed Lord stood in my 
way. After having addressed me, he read 
some extracts from St. John's gospel, res- 
pecting the preaching of the word of life. 
This dream was the means of troubling me 
still more. 

I now requested if the Lord had called 
me to this holy work, that he would make it 
manifest by a sign. So one day, after prayer, 
I went to a friend, and told him if he was 
willing to give out an appointment for meet- 
ing at his house, I would try and exhort. 
He assented, and in giving out the appoint- 
ment he made a mistake as he informed the 



94 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



people that there would be a sermon instead 
of an exhortation, and when I attended, in 
place of finding a few persons at my friend's 
house, I found a large congregation assem- 
bled at the school-house. I now thought I 
was in a sad predicament — I had never 
preached; but I called mightily upon God for 
assistance. When 1 went in, every eye was 
fixed on me, and when I was commencing 
the meeting, it appeared as if my confidence 
in God was gone, my lips quivered, my voice, 
trembled, my knees smote together, and in 
short I quaked as it were with fear. But the 
Lord blessed me. Some of the people 
were pleased, and a few displeased. Soon 
after this, I received an invitation to hold a 
meeting in the same place again. I accord- 
ingly went, and I found a great concourse 
of people who had come out to hear the 
Indian preach, and as soon as I had commen- 
ced, the sons of the devil began to show 
their front — and I was treated not with the 
greatest loving kindness, as one of them 
threw an old hat in my face, and this exam- 
ple was followed by others, who threw sticks 
at me. But in the midst I went on with my 
sermon, and spoke from 2 Pet. ii. 9. The 
Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of 
temptations, and to reserve the unjust until the 
day of judgment, to be punished. The Lord 
laid too his helping hand: the sons of night 



A SON OF THE FOKEST. 95 

were confused. Now I can truly say that a 
native of the forest cannot be found in all 
our country, who would not blush at the bad 
conduct of many who enjoy in a pre-emi- 
nent degree the light of the gospel. But so it 
is, that in the very centre of gospel light and 
influence, thousands of immortal souls are 
sitting in darkness, or walking in the valley 
of the shadow of death ! It is the truth, and 
a melancholy truth indeed ! 

I had an invitation to speak at another 
place about nine miles distant. Still, I was 
not satisfied ; and I made it a subject of con- 
stant and serious prayer — I implored the 
Lord all the way, that if I was truly called 
to preach the everlasting gospel, I might 
have some token of his favour. I found the 
congregation large and respectful, and I 
spoke from Jeremiah, vi. 14. We had a 
good time, but nothing special occurred. 
The congregation in the afternoon was much 
larger than in the morning, and it was im- 
pressed upon my mind to speak from this 
portion of the holy scriptures — The Lord 
Jcnoweth hovj to deliver the godly out of temp- 
tation, and reserve the unjust to the day of 
judgment to be punished. The Lord gave 
me strength, and we had a most gracious 
and glorious exhibition of his presiding 
presence, as many wept bitterly on account 
of their sins, while the saints* of the most 



96 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

high rejoiced in the prospect of a complete 
and triumphant deliverance from the power 
of their sworn and cruel foe. Now I was 
assured that my call was of God. and I re- 
turned home praising Him. 

Shortly after this, my father began to 
oppose me — perhaps he thought with some 
of the whites, that there were enough preach- 
ers in the land already. Be this as it may, 
I continued to exercise my gift, and preach- 
ed wherever a door was opened, and I trust 
with some success. 

It was now nearly time for the Conference 
to commence its session, and one of our 
circuit preachers very kindly told me that I 
had better desist until I should have ob- 
tained a licence, if I did not I would break 
the rules of the church — but I had already 
violated these. Considering my youth and 
good intentions, he overlooked this con- 
ceived error, and informed me that if I 
waited patiently, I should have a license to 
exercise mv (rift bv way of exhortation, and 
that the preacher who was to succeed him 
would think it wrong if he found me holding 
meetings without authority from my brethren, 
and I partly consented. But the time was 
so long before the matter could be finally 
regulated, that I could not sheath my sword, 
and having on the armor, I took the field, 



A SON OF THE FOEEST. 



97 



and preached till the new elder come among 
us ; and when he found me preaching, what 
do you think he did? why, he placed me 
under censure. Now he wanted me to con- 
fess that I was in error ; but I was such a 
blind Indian that I could not see how I was 
in error in preaching Christ Jesus, and Him 
crucified, and of course could not conscienci- 
ously confess as erroneous that which I believed 
to be right. He told me that if I ivas right, not 
to confess, but as I did not confess he cast 
me out of the church, showing plainly that 
he believed that no person is called of God to 
preach his word unless ordained of man ! No 
comment is necessary on this fact. 

This unkind treatment as I regarded it, 
had nearly proved the ruin of my soul. The 
waters of affliction had well nigh overwhel- 
med me — my hopes were drowned, and 
having been excluded from the pales of the 
church, I viewed myself as an outcast from 
society. Now the enemy sought to prevail 
against me, and for a season overcome me, 
I gave way for a little while, but soon re- 
turned to my first love. I went then to my 
native tribe w T here meetings were still kept 
up — I tarried here but a short time, and then 
went to Old Saybrook ; here I found a few- 
Methodists, but they were too feeble to form 
a society, as persecution was at its heighth. 
There were also a few coloured people who 
9 



98 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

met regularly for religious worship ; with 
these I sometimes assembled. 

About this time I met with a woman of 
nearly the same colour as myself— she bore 
a pious and exemplary character. After a 
short acquaintance, we were united in the 
sacred bonds of marriage ; and now I was 
going on prosperously ; but at last a calamity 
fell upon me, which nearly crushed me to 
the dust. A man exacted work of me, for a 
debt that I did not honestly owe, and while 
making his shoes, I concluded to pay myself, 
which I did — immediately my conscience 
smote me, but I could not replace it in time, 
so I made ample restitution, and a frank con- 
fession before all my brethren — and the Lord 
was good, for he wiped out the blot, and re- 
stored me to his favour. I then went to Mid- 
dletown, and remained a short time, where I 
got out of business, crossed over the river, 
and agreed to serve a tavern-keeper for one 
month. I now sought every opportunity to 
be alone, and when my month was up, I re- 
ceived my wages and sent it to my wife. I 
had now to seek another place, and as I went 
along, I prayed that my family might not 
suffer, as I knew that they were innocent, 
and my little ones too small to help them- 
selves. After a little while, the Lord opened 
the way, and I obtained a situation with a 
Mr. Hail, in Gloucester, for two months, at 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 



99 



twelve dollars a month. It being harvest 
time, my employer allowed each of his hands 
a half pint of spirits every day. I told him 
I did not want my portion, so he agreed to 
pay me a little more. I abstained entirely, 
and found that I could not only stand labour 
as well, but perform more than those who 
drank the spirits. All the hands exclaimed 
against me, and said that I would soon give 
out; but I was determined that touch not 
taste not, handle not, should be my motto ; 
God supported me, and I can truly say, that 
my health was better, my appetite improved, 
and my mind w r as calm. My general drink 
was molasses or milk and water. Some 
persons say, that they cannot do without 
spirituous liquors, but I say it is a curse to 
individuals, to families, to communities, to 
the nation and to the world at large. 1 
could enlarge on this momentuous subject — 
1 could speak from experience, as I have too 
often felt its baneful effects, but as I intend, 
if the Lord spares me, to publish an essay 
on Intemperance, I leave it for the present. 
When my time was out, Mr Hail paid me 
like a gentleman, and also gave me three 
dollars and twenty-five cents, in lieu of the 
spirits — a sum sufficient to buy my poor 
dear children some clothes. The family 
were loth to part with me, as I had endea- 



100 if son of the forest. 

voured to live a godly life — I held a prayer 
meeting with them, and departed with tears 
in my eyes. 

I now bent my course for Hartford, and 
engaged labour work at twenty dollars a 
month — then I went home, and spent one 
week with my dear family, and according to 
my engagements, returned to Hartford, but 
my place was taken up, and I did not know 
what to do. While in this extremity, a 
thought struck me — I remembered that I 
had a sister living in Providence. Thither 
I went, and soon found my sister, who was 
-very kind to me. I had no difficulty in pro- 
curing work. The spirit of the Lord now 
fell afresh upon me, and I at once entered 
into the work without conferring with Hesh 
and blood. I appointed meeting for ex- 
hortation, and prayer — the Lord blessed my 
feeble efforts, and souls were converted and 
added to the church. I continued here five 
months, and then taking a letter of recom- 
mendation, returned to my family; and 
when I had concluded to remove to Provi- 
dence, as the place of my future residence, 
the society gave me a certificate to the 
church in Providence— I there joined, and 
I was shortly appointed to the office of class- 
leader, which office I filled for two years. 
I now obtained a verbal permission to ap- 
point meetings, from Brother Webb, the 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 101 

preacher in charge. Brother Kent suc- 
ceeded him. After this change I applied 
for a licence to exhort — but I was opposed 
by two or three persons on account of not 
having lived long enough in the place. The 
rest of the class, about thirty in number, 
were anxious that I should have a licence, 
and a division had like to have been the 
consequence of withholding it from me. In 
a month or two after, the affair was settled 
to mutual satisfaction, and it was agreed that 
I should have licence to exhort. I went 
from place to place, improving my gift, and 
the Lord blessed my labours. I now felt it 
more strongly my duty, and an inward satis- 
faction in preaching the "word." Some- 
times, however, the evil one would tempt 
me to give it up, but instantly my conscience 
would reprove me. Many a severe combat 
have I had with the enemy repecting my 
competency, and I come to the conclusion 
that if I could not give " refined!" instruc- 
tion, and neglected to discharge my duty to 
God and my fellow men on that account, I 
could not enjoy his smiles. So I was de- 
termined in the strength of the Lord to go 
on in the way wherein I was called. 

My mind was now exercised about en- 
tering the work as a missionary. I prayed 
to the Lord, if it was his will to open "the 
way, as I was poor, and had a family to 
9* 



102 A SON OP THE FOREST. 

maintain, and did not wish to depend upon 
public charity. My desire was to do some- 
thing at the same time that would enable me 
to keep my family. Now a gentleman 
wished me to take out some religious books, 
and sell them. I did so, and went praying 
to God all the way to bless me — and so he 
did, and his blessing attended my labours 
wherever I went. I had also some success 
in selling my books, and made enough to 
support my little family and defray my 
necessary travelling expenses. So I con- 
cluded to travel, and the Lord went with 
me. In one of these excursions, I went over 
on Long Island, and from thence to New- 
York, where my bodily strength was re- 
duced by a fever. Here in the hour of sick- 
ness the Lord was with me — I experienced 
his comforting presence, the kindness of 
friends, and the quiet of a peaceful conscience. 
It was a sore trial for me to be absent, in 
such a situation, from my family, but it 66 was 
good to be afflicted" — and how beautiful was 
this passage of scripture fulfilled which says, 
Seek first the kingdom of heaven, and all 
things else shall be added. How beautiful 
and numerous are his promises, and how 
strikingly fulfilled. I have seen all these 
promises verified. Blessings unnumbered 
and undeserved showered upon me. 



A SON OF THE FOEEST. 108 

From Xew-York I went to Albany, stop- 
ping at the different villages, and exhorting 
the people to repentance, and the Lord 
seconded my efforts* I was very sick for 
about one month, and my friends thought I 
would not recover; but although I was very 
much reduced, I did not think my sands had 
yet run their course— I believed that God 
would spare me to preach his Gospel; and 
according to my faith it was, for I speedily 
recovered, and commenced again my labour 
of love. On Arbour Hill the Lord poured 
out his spirit in a powerful manner. Here a 
class of about thirty members was organized, 
and at a number of places where I laboured 
several were added, but how many in the 
whole I cannot say precisely; let it suffice 
that through my instrumentality some souls 
were brought from a state of sin and dark- 
ness to the light and favour of God — to whom 
be all the glory ascribed. 

After having been absent six months I re- 
turned heme and found my dear family and 
friends in the enjoyment of their usual health. 
After remaining about a fortnight, I went to 
Boston. Here the Lord blessed my labours 
among the friends of the cross. While in 
Boston I met with a professed infidel, who 
wished to draw me into an argument, by 
hooting at m# for believing in Jesus Christ, 
the Saviour of fallen men. I spoke to hifja 



*Uf A SOX OF THE FOREST. 

about being a good gentleman, and he re- 
plied that I in common with my brethren be- 
lieved that no man was a gentleman unless he 
was under the influence of priestcraft; and I 
told him, that I considered every man a gen- 
tleman who acted in a becoming manner. 
He then asked by what authority I believed in 
Jesus Christ as my Saviour; I answered, by 
an internal witness in my soul, and the enjoy- 
ment of that peace emanating from this Sa- 
viour, which the "world can neither give or 
take away." This stirred his passions, and 
he said, 1 suppose you think I am an Atheist, 
to which I replied in the negative, and as- 
sured him that he was an infidel. ' I then 
spoke to him of Jesus Christ and his Apos- 
tles; and he replied, that they were all fools 
together, and I was as great a one as anv. 
He turned pale, and looked as if he would 
have swallowed me up alive— and I gave 
him an exhortation, and went on my way. 
After spending about two months in Boston, I 
returned home ; then I visited New-Bedford 
Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket, preach- 
ing the word wherever a door was opened — 
and the Lord was not unmindful of me, his 
presence accompanied me, and I believe 
that much good was done. Again I visited 
my family, and then went to Salem, and I 
found many precious souls. We held several 



A SON OF TpE FOKFST. 105 

meetings, and the Lord came forth in the 
galleries of grace, and my labour of love 
proved very profitable to the dear people, 
and when I left them the parting scene was 
very affecting. I now visited the different 
towns, preaching as 1 went along, until I 
reached Newburyport, and having taken 
letters of recommendation from the various 
preachers, I was kindly received, and re- 
porting myself to Brother Bartholomew 
Otheman the preacher in charge, he pro- 
vided lodgings for me. It so happened that 
Brother John Foster, his colleague, was sick, 
and they needed some help, and I thought 
the brethren were glad that I had come 
among them. At night I preached for 
Brother Otheman, and the next evening in 
the church w r here Brother Foster officiated, 
and an appointment was given out for me to 
preach in the course of the next Sunday at 
the same church, but having an intercourse 
in the mean time with Brother Foster, and 
finding him highly tinctured with Calvinism, 
I thought I would converse freely with him 
on the subject. This course soured his 
mind against me, and he gave out my future 
appointments in such a way that I thought 
best to preach the word in the dwelling 
houses of the inhabitants; and I had as many 
hearers as I could have wished, and I bless 
the Lord that much good was done in his 



106 A SON OF THE FOXIEST. 

name. I made several attempts towards a 
reconciliation — he could hear no proposals 
— I could make no concessions, as I had not 
injured or given him any cause of offence, 
and he went on to persecute me, notwith- 
standing the remonstrances of his brethren. 
My motives were pure, and I bless the Lord 
that a day will come when the secrets of all 
hearts shall be revealed. I forgive the poor 
man for all the injury he attempted to do 
me, and I hope the righteous judge of all 
men, will also forgive him. 

From Newburyport I went to Portland, 
Maine, where I had some gracious times, 
and laboured with success, and then return- 
ed to my abiding place at Providence, R. L 
with a recommendation. I reported myself 
to the preacher in charge, and asked for 
a certificate he said that my recommenda- 
dation was "genuine," but he had heard 
evil reports respecting me, and preferred 
inquiring into the matter before he granted 
my request. I felt glad that the brother 
had promised to make inquiry, as I knew 
that I should come out well. As this 
would take some time I crossed over to 
Long Island, preached at Sag Harbour and 
other places with success, and then went to 
New York, where I remained but a short 
time and then proceeded to Albany. Here 
I was known, and was received in a friendly 



A SON OF THE FOREST. 107 

way, and continued to preach wherever an 
opportunity offered ; while here a certificate 
of my membership was received from the 
church in Providence, and on the force of it 
I entered the church. I now 7 applied for 
license to preach, and was recommended to 
the quarterly conference as a suitable candi- 
date, but the conference thought differently ; 
so after improving my gift three months I 
made another application. 

I had been advised by the preachers to 
improve on Watervliet circuit in order that 
they might have an opportunity to form an 
estimate of my talents and usefulness, and 
this was right. I accordingly went forward 
with fear and trembling, but the Lord ena- 
bled me to take up the cross, and stood by 
me at this time. Several, I trust, through 
my instrumentality, passed from death unto 
life. I held meetings in Albany, and crowds 
flocked out, some to hear the truth, and 
others to see the " Indian." The worth of 
souls lay near my heart, and the Lord was 
pleased to own the labours of his feeble 
servant. From Albany I went to Bath, 
where the power of the Almighty was felt in 
a wonderful manner, it appeared as though 
all the inhabitants were engaged in seeking 
the salvation of their souls — -many wept bit- 
terly and cried aloud for mercy, and seven or 
eight in the judgment of charity passed from 



A SQy OF THE FOREST, 



death unto life. I then went on to my ap- 
pointment at Watervliet, and here the Lord 
was present to awaken sinners and reclaim 
backsliders. 

At Troy I found a number of good Chris- 
tian friends, with whom I had several very 
good meetings, and the power of the Lord 
was made manifest One evening as I was 
preaching to some coloured people, in a 
school house, the power of the Lord moved 
on the congregation, both white and colour- 
ed — bard hearts began to melt, and inquire 
what they must do to be saved. We had a 
very refreshing season from the presence of 
the Lord. 

I now went into all surrounding; villa- 
ges preaching the word of eternal life 
and exhorting sinners to repentance. Be- 
fore the quarterly meeting, I took a tour to 
the west, as far as L'tica, holding meetings 
by the way and I found God as precious as 
ever, and being absent three weeks. I return- 
ed in order to attend the conference, which 
was to be held on the 11th of April. 

I can truly say that the spirit of prejudice 
is no longer an inmate of my bosom : the 
sun of consolation has warmed my hearty 
and by the grace of God assisting me, I am 
determined to sound the trump of the gospel 
j — to call upon men to turn and live. Look 
brethren, at the natives if the forest — they 



k SON 0£ the fohest. 



109 



tome, notwithstanding you call them 
M savage" from the " east and from the 
west, the north, and the south," and will oc- 
cupy seats in the kingdom of heaven before 
you. Let us one &hd all i{ contend 5 ' va- 
lient!}' " for that faith once delivered to the 
saints"; and if we are contented, and love 
God with all our hearts, and desire the en- 
jovment of his peaceful presence, we sha]] 
be able to say with the poet, 

" Let others stietch their arms like seas. 
Avid grasp in all the shore ; 
Grant me the visits of his grace> 
And I desire no more. 

Now, my dear reader, I have endeavoured 
to give you a short but correct statement of 
the leading features of my life. When I 
think of what I am, and how wonderfully 
the Lord has led me, I am dumb before 
him. When I contrast my situation with 
that of the rest of my family, and many of 
my tribe, I am led to adore the goodness of 
God. When I reflect upon my man}- mis- 
deeds and wanderings, and the dangers to 
which I was consequently exposed, I am lo.t 
in astonishment at the long forbearance, and 
the unmerited mercy of God. I stand be- 
fore you as a monument of his unfailing 
goodness — may that same mercy which has 
upheld me, still be my portion — and may 
10 



L 



1 10 A SON OF THE FOREST. 

author and reader be preserved until the 
perfect day, and dwell forever in the para- 
dise of God. 

WILLIAM APES. 



INTRODUCTION. 

Believing that some general observations 
on the origin and character of the Indians, 
as a nation, would be acceptable to the nu- 
merous and highly respectable persons who 
have lent their patronage to his work, the 
subscriber has somewhat abridged 11 his life" 
to make room for this Appendix. In the 
following pages the reader will find some 
"general observations" touching his breth- 
ren. He is conscious that they are thrown 
together without that order that an accom- 
plished scholar would observe — and he takes 
this means of saying, that he is indebted in 
a great measure to the works of the vene- 
rated Boudinot, late president of the Ame- 
rican Bible Society, Brainard, Colden, and 
several other gentlemen, as well as to the 
newspaper press and missionary journals, 
for many of the interesting facts, &:c. which 
will be found in this department of his work, 

WM. APES. 



10* 



APPENDIX. 



Ever since the discovery of America by 
that celebrated navigator, Columbus, the 
u civilized" or enlightened natives of the old 
world regarded its inhabitants as an exten- 
sive race of " savages !" — of course they 
were treated as barbarians, and for nearly 
two centuries they suffered without inter- 
mission, as the Europeans acted on the prin- 
cipal that might makes right— Hand if they 
could succeed in defrauding the natives out 
of their lands, and drive them from the sea- 
board, they were satisfied for a time. With 
this end in view, they sought to " engage 
them in war, destroy them by thousands 
with ardent spirits, and fatal disorders un- 
known to them before." Every European 
vice that had a tendency to debase and ruin 
both body and soul was introduced among 
them. Their avowed object was to obtain 
possession of the goodly inheritance of the 
Indian, and in their " enlightened" estima- 
tion, the " end justified the means." 
When I reflect upon the complicated ills to 
which my brethren have been subject, 
ever since history has recorded their exis- 
tence — their wanderings, their perils, their 
privations, and their many sorrows, and the 



116 APFEXDIX. 

fierceness of that persecution which marked 
their dwellings and their persons for de- 
struction — When I take into consideration 
the many ancient usages and customs ob- 
served religiously by them, and which have 
so near and close resemblance to the man- 
ners, &c. of the ancient Israelites, I am led 
to believe that they are none other than the 
descendants of Jacob, and the long lost tribes 
of Israel. In view of this subject, the late 
Mr. Boudinot says, that there is a possibi- 
lity that these unhappy children of misfor- 
tune may yet be proved to be the descend- 
ants of Jacob; and if so, that though cast off 
for their henious transgressions, they have 
not been altogether forsaken, and will here- 
after appear to have been in all their disper- 
sions and wanderings, the subjects of God's 
divine protection and gracious care. 

The writer above referred to is of the 
opinion that if the natives had been favoured 
with early instruction, and their cause had 
been faithfully and fully represented to pos- 
terity, u their character would have been 
considered in a very difierent point of light 
from what it now is." It is often said of the 
"savages" that their mode of carrying on 
war, and the method of treating their pris- 
oners, is cruel and barbarous in the ex- 
treme — but did not the whites set them the 
brutal exajupk? Wbeo they first visited 



APPENDIX. 



117 



these shores, they found the wilderness, as they 
called it, teeming with a healthy and happy 
population ; here they found, after the first 
natural impulses of fear had subsided, fast and 
firm friends in the sons of the forest. And 
what return did they receive for all their 
friendship ? 

The following extracts from the Bishop 
of Chapia, De las Cases, who came over 
from Spain for the purpose of teaching the 
natives, is directly in point : — 

" I was one of the first who went to Ame- 
rica. Neither curiosity nor interest promp- 
ted me to undertake so long and dangerous 
a voyage. The saving the souls of the hea- 
then was my sole object. Why was I not 
permitted, even at the expense of my blood, 
to ransom so many thousands of souls, who 
fell unhappy victims to avarice and lust. It 
was said that barbarous executions were ne- 
cessary to punish or check the rebellion of 
the Americans. But to whom was this owing ? 
Did not this people receive the Spaniards 
who first came among them with gentleness 
and humanity? Did they not show more 
joy in proportion, in lavishing treasure upon 
them, than the Spaniards did greediness in 
receiving it ? But our avarice was not yet 
satisfied. Though they gave up to us their 
lands and their riches, we would take from 
them their wives, their children, and their 



118 APPENDIX. 

liberty. To blacken the characters of these 
unhappy people, their enemies assert that 
they are scarce human creatures. But it is 
tve who ought to blush for having been less 
men, and more barbarous than they. They 
are represented as a stupid people, and ad- 
dicted to vice. But have they not con- 
tracted most of their vices from the exam- 
ple of christians. But it must be granted 
that the Indians still remain untainted with 
many vices usual among Europeans. Such 
as ambition, blasphemy, swearing, treachery, 
and many such monsters, which have not 
yet taken place among them. They have 
scarce an idea of them. All nations are 
equally free. One nation has no right to 
infringe on the freedom of another. Let us 
do to these people, as we would have them 
have done to us, on a change of circum- 
stances. What a strange method is this of 
propagating the gospel; that holy law of 
grace, which, from being slaves to Satan, 
initiates us into the freedom of the children 
of God." 

The Abbe Clavigero, another Spanish 
writer, confirms this idea of the South Ame- 
ricans. " We have had intimate converse, 
says he, with the Americans ; have lived 
some years in a seminary destined for their 
instruction — attentively observed their cha- 
racter—their genius — -their disposition and 



APPENDIX. 



119 



manner of thinking ; and have besides, ex- 
amined with the utmost diligence their an- 
cient history— their religion— their govern- 
ment — their laws and their customs. After 
such long experience and study of them, we 
declare, that the mental qualities of the Ame- 
icans are not in the least inferior to those of 
the Europeans." 

Who were the first agressors, and who first 
imbrued their hands in blood? Not the 
Indian. No : he treated the stranger as a 
brother and a friend, until that stranger 
whom he had received upon his fertile soil, 
endeavoured to enslave him, and resorted 
to brutal violence to accomplish his designs. 
And if they committed excesses, they only 
followed in the footsteps of the whites, who 
must blame themselves for provoking their 
independent and unyielding spirits, and by a 
long series of cruelty and bloodshed, drove 
them to arms. This was the case in the 
colony of Virginia, where the natives rose 
upon the whites, who in their turn " waged 
a destructive war against the Indians, and 
murdered men women and children." 

Dr. Robertson, in his History of America, 
says, that the English, like the Spaniards, 
regardless of those principles of faith, honour 
and humanity, which regulate hostilities 
among civilized nations and set bounds to 
their rage, seemed to regard every thing 



1*20 APPENDIX. 

allowable, that tended to accomplish their 
designs. They hunted the Indians like wild 
beasts, rather than enemies : and as the pur- 
suit of them to their places of retreat in the 
woods was both difficult and dangerous, they 
endeavoured to allure them from their inac- 
cessible fastnesses, by oilers of peace and 
promises of oblivion, made with such an art- 
ful appearance of sincerity, as deceived the 
crafty Indian chief, and induced the Indians 
to return in the year 1623, to their for- 
mer settlements, and resume their usual 
peaceful occupations* The behaviour of the 
two people seemed now to be perfectly re- 
versed. The Indians, like men acquainted 
with the principles of integrity and good 
faith, on which the intercourse between na- 
tions is founded, confided in the reconcilia- 
tion, and lived in absolute security, without 
suspicion of danger; while the English, with 
perfidious craft, were preparing: to imitate 
savages in their revenae and ofxtelty. 

" On the approach of harvest, when a 
hostile attack would be most formidable and 
fatal, the English fell suddenly on all the 
Indian plantations, and murdered every 
person on whom they could lay hold, and 
drove the rest to the woods, where so many 
perished with hunger, that some of the tribes 
nearest to the English were totally extirpa- 
ted. 75 



APPENDIX. 



mi 



Roberston, again speaking of the war til 
New-England, between Connecticut and 
Providence, in their first attempt against the 
Pequod Indians, says, " that the Indians had 
secured their town, which was on a rising 
ground in a swamp, with pallisades. The 
New-England troops, unperceived, reached 
the pallisades. The barking of a dog alar- 
med the Indians. In a moment, however* 
they started to their arms, and raising the 
war-cry, prepared to repel the assailants* 
The English forced their way through into 
the fort, or town, and setting fire to the 
huts, which w r ere covered with reeds, the 
confusion and terror quickly became general. 
Many of the v/omen and children perished 
in the flames, and the warriors, endeavour- 
ing to escape, were either slain by the En- 
glish, or falling into the hands of the Indian 
allies, who surrounded the fort at a distance, 
were reserved for a more cruel fate. The 
English resolved to pursue their victory, 
and hunting the Indians from one place of 
retreat to another, some subsequent encoun- 
ters were hardly less fatal than the first 
action. In less than three months, the tribe 
of the Pequods was nearly extirpated* 

" Thus the English stained their laurels 
by the use they made of victory. Instead 
of treating the Pequods as an independant 
people, who made a gallant effort to defend 

n 



122 



APPENDIX. 



the property ; the rights and freedom of their 
nation, they retaliated upon them all the 
barbarities of American war. Some they 
massacred in cold blood, others they gave 
up to be tortured by their Indian allies, a 
considerable number they sold as slaves in 
Bermuda, the rest were reduced to servitude 
among themselves." 

Dr. Boudinot says, that this tribe, (the 
Pequods referred to above) " were a princi- 
pal nation of the east, and very forcibly re- 
minds one of the similarity of the same name 
in Jeremiah, 1. 21. where the inhabitants of 
Pekod are particularly mentioned ; and al$o 
in Ezekiel, xxiii. 2. 3. The difference in 
spelling one with a ~k and the other with a 
j, is no uncommon thing, the Indian langua- 
ges being very gutteral, k is generally used 
where an Englishman would use the q. 

Columbus was as competent to form a 
proper estimate of the character of the na- 
tives as any other man. In his account to 
his patrons, he says : — " I swear to your 
majesties, that there is not a better people 
in the world than these ; more affectionate, 
affable, or mild. They love their neigh- 
bours as themselves. Their language is the 
sweetest, softest, and most cheerful, for they 
always speak smiling." 

That the whites were treated by the na- 
tives of New-England, with the utmost kind- 



APPENDIX. 



123 



ness, there is no doubt. The Rev. Mr. 
Cushman, in a sermon preached at Pij~- 
mouth, in 1620 thus speaks of the treatment 
of the Indian to the whites: "The Indians 
are said to be the most cruel and treache- 
rous people m all these parts, even like 
lions/6 M £ to us they have been like lambs, 
so kind, so submissive and trusty, as a man 
may truly say, many christians are not so 
kind or sincere. Though when we came 
first into this country, we were few, and 
many of us very sick, and many died, by 
reason of the cold and wet, it being the 
depth of winter, and we having no houses 
or shelter, yet when there were not six able 
persons among us, and th e Indians came 
daily to us by hundreds, with their sachems 
or kings, and might in one hour have made 
despatch of us; yet such fear was upon 
them, as that they never offered us the 
least injury in word or deed. And by rea- 
son of one Tisguanto, that lives among USj 
and can speak English, we have daily com- 
merce with their kings, and can know what 
is done or intended towards us among the 
savages." 

Governor Hutchinson bore unqualified 
testimony to the kindness and courtesy of 
the natives. The celebrated Wm. Penn, 
represented them as being a "kind and be- 
nevolent people." Mr. Smith, in his history 



124 



APPENDIX. 



of New-Jersey, says, they manifested the 
greatest cordiality and friendship for the 
inhabitants. 

The real character of the aborigines is 
thus noticed by Father Charlevoix, who 
had by extensive travel among the tribes 
scattered from Quebec to New-Orleans, a 
great opportunity of forming a proper esti- 
mate of Indian customs, manners, &c. In 
speaking of the real character of the nations, 
he says, " that with a mien and appearance 
altogether savage ; and with manners and 
customs which favour the greatest barbarity, 
they enjoy all the advantages of society. At 
first view one would imagine them without 
form of government, laws or subordination* 
and subject to the wildest caprice. Never- 
theless, they rarely deviate from certain 
maxims and usages, founded on good sense 
alone, which holds the place of law, and 
supplies in short the want of legal authority. 
They manifest much stability in their en- 
gagements they have solemnly entered upon; 
patience and affliction, as well as submission 
to what they apprehend to be the appoint- 
ment of Providence ; in all this they man- 
ifest a nobleness of soul and constancy of 
mind, at which we rarely arrive with all our 
philosophy and religion. They are neither 
slaves to ambition nor interest, the two pas- 
sions that haye so much weakened in us the 



APPENDIX. 



125 



sentiments of humanity, (which the kind au- 
thor of nature has engraven on the human 
heart) and kindled those of covetousness, 
which are yet generally unknown among 
them." 

" The nearer view we take of our savages, 
the more we discover in them some valuable 
qualities. The chief part of the principles 
by which they regulate their conduct; the 
general maxims by which they govern them- 
selves ; and the bottom of their characters, 
have nothing which appear barbarous. The 
ideas, though now quite confused, which 
they have retained of a first Being ; the tra- 
ces, though almost effaced, of a religious 
worship, which they appear formerly to have 
rendered to- the Supreme Deity, and the 
faint marks which we observe, even in their 
most indifferent actions, of the ancient belief, 
and the primitive religion, may bring them 
more easily than we think of, into the way 
of truth, and make their conversion to Chris- 
tianity more easily to be effected, than that 
of more civilized nations." 

Mr. Boudinot after speaking more particu- 
larly of the general character of the Indian 
nations— of their kindness to women and 
children who are taken prisoners, and of 
their great delicacy towards the former — 
of their haughty tempers, he, proceeds to 
11* 



126 



APPENDIX. 



give the following extract from Wynne's His* 
tory of America, he says 

"But let us come nearer home. Who set 
them the example of barbarity, even to those 
whom they invaded and plundered of their 
property— deprived of their lands and ren- 
dered their whole country a scene of horror, 
confusion and distress. Wynne, in his histo- 
ry of America, tells us, 'that the New-Eng- 
land people, in an early day, as we have al- 
ready seen, made an attack upon the Pequod 
Indians, and drove eight hundred of them, 
with about two hundred of their woman and 
children, into a swamp— a fog arising, the 
men escaped, except a few, who were either 
killed or wounded. But the helpless wo- 
men and children surrendered at discretion. 
The Sachem's wife, who some time before, 
had rescued the Weathersfield maidens, and 
returned them home, was among them. She 
made twp requests, which arose from a ten- 
derness and virtue not common among sava- 
ges. 1st. That her chastity might remain 
unviolated. 2d. That her children might 
not be taken from her. The amiable sweet- 
ness of her countenance, and the modest 
dignity of her deportment, were worthy of 
the character she supported for innocence 
and justice, and were sufficient to show the 
Europeans, that even barbarous nations, 
sometimes produce instances of heroic virtue. 



APPENDIX. 



127 



it is not said by the historian, whether her 
requests were granted or not, but that the 
women and children were dispersed through 
the neighbouring colonies, the male infants 
excepted, who were sent to the Bermudas,' 
— 1 vol. 66. Indeed, had the Indians, on 
their part, been able to answer in writing, 
they might have formed a contrast between 
themselves and their mortal enemies, the 
civilized subjects of Great Britain. They 
might have recapitulated their conduct in 
the persecution of Indians, witches and qua- 
hers in New-England. — Indians and Negroes 
in New-York, and the cruelty with which 
the aborigines were treated in Virginia. 

" These invaders of a country, (in the 
peaceable possession of a free and happy 
people, entirely independent, as the deer of 
the forests) made war upon them with all 
the advantage of fire arms and the military 
knowledge of Europe, in the most barbarous 
manner — not observing any rules of nations, 
or the principles of modern warfare, much 
les-s the benign injunctions of the gospel. 
They soon taught the Indians by their fatal 
examples, to retaliate with the most invete- 
rate malice and diabolical cruelty. The 
civilized Europeans, though flying from the 
persecution of the old world, did not hesitate 
to deny their professed religion of peace and 
good will to men, by murdering, men, wo- 



12S 



APPENDIX. 



men and children — selling captives as slaves 
— cutting off the heads, and quartering the 
bodies of those who were killed, nobly fight- 
ing for their liberty and their country, in 
self-defence, and seting them up in various 
places, in ignoble triumph at their success. 
Philip, an independant sovereign of the Pe- 
quods, who disdained to submit, but died 
fighting at the head of his men, had his head 
cut off and carried on a pole with great re- 
joicings, to New 7 Plymouth, where, Wynne 

says, his skull is to be seen to this day. 

Vide vol. 1. 106 to 108. 

" This conduct produced greater violence 
and barbarity on the part of the other na- 
tions of Indians in the neighbourhood, often 
joined by French Europeans who acted, at 
times, worse than the native Indians, and by 
this means, a total disregard of promises 
and pledged faith on both sides, became 
common. — Ibid. 124-6." 

After reading the above, I presume that 
no person will doubt that great injustice has 
been done to the Indians, and I also think 
that no liberal mind will say that they are the 
only savages. It is a matter of sober fact, 
that the natives, on their first acquaintance 
with the Europeans, manifested themselves 
generous, highminded, kind and hospitable, 
and these feelings marked all their inter- 
course with the whites, while they were 



A3PPEXDIX. 



129 



treated with humanity ; and it was not till 
after repeated aggressions on the part of the 
whites, not until they were overreached, and 
their friends and relatives carried into hope- 
less captivity, that they exhibited that deep 
and settled hatred to the whites, which may 
very properly be termed an hereditary ani- 
mosity. 

The social kindness of the Indians has 
been referred to by many writers. Le Page 
Du Pratz, says, that they behaved towards 
each other with a kindness and regard not 
to be found among civilized nations, In his 
history of Lousianna, he says, " We are 
equally charmed with that natural and unaf- 
fected gravity, which reigns in all their beha- 
viour, in all their actions, and in the greatest 
part of their diversions. Also with the 
civility and deference they show r to their 
equals, and the respect of young people to 
the aged. And lastly, never to see them 
quarrel among themselves, with those inde- 
cent expressions, oaths and curses, so com- 
mon amongus; all which are proofs of good 
sense and a great command of temper.* In 
short to make a brief portrait of these peo- 
ple, with a savage appearance, manners and 

* ci I have studied these Indians a considerable num« 
her of years, and I never could learn that there ever 
were any disputes or boxing matches among either 
the boys or men," 2 vol, 15G S 



130 



APPENDIX. 



customs, which are entirely barbarous there 
is observable among them, a social kindness, 
free from almost all imperfections which so 
often disturb the peace of society among us, 
They appear to be without passion ; but 
they do that in cold blood, and sometimes 
through principle, which the most violent 
and unbridled passion produces in those who 
give no ear to reason. They seem to lead 
the most wretched life in the world; and yet 
they were, perhaps the only happy people 
on earth, before the knowledge of the objects 
which so work upon and seduce us, had ex- 
cited in them, desires which ignorance kept 
in supineness ; but which have not as yet 
(in 1730) made any great ravages among 
them. We discover in them a mixture of 
the fiercest and most gentle manners. The 
imperfections of wild beasts, and the virtues 
and qualities of the heart and mind which do 
the greatest honour to human nature." 

He further observes, " that upon an ac- 
quaintance with the Indians, he was convin- 
ced that it was wrong to denominate them 
savages, as they are capable of making good 
use of their reason and their sentiments are 
just. That they have a degree of prudence, 
faithfulness and generosity, exceeding that of 
nations who would be offended at being com- 
pared with them. No people, says he, are 
more hospitable and free than the Indians, 



APPENDIX. 



Hence they may be esteemed a happy peo- 
ple, if that happiness was not impeded by 
their passionate fondness for spiritous li- 
quors, and the foolish notion they hold in 
common with many professing Christians, of 
gaining reputation and esteem by their pow- 
ess in war." But to whom do they owe 
their uncommon attachment to both these 
evils ? Is it not the white people who came 
to them with destruction in each hand, while 
we did but deceive ourselves with the vain 
notion, that we were bringing the glad ti- 
dings of salvation to them. Instead of this, 
we have possessed these unoffending people 
with so horrid an idea of our principles, 
that among themselves they call us the 
accursed people; and their great numbers, 
when first discovered, shew that they had, 
comparatively, but few wars before we came 
among them." 

The Indian character, I have observed 
before has been greatly misrepresented. 
Justice has not, and 1 may add, Justice can- 
not be fully done to them by the historian. 
My people have had no press to record their 
sufferings, or to make known their grievan- 
ces ; on this account many a tale of blood 
and wo, has never been known to the public. 
And during the wars between the natives 
and the whites, the latter could, through the 
medium of the newspaper press, circulate 



m 



atPexvix. 



extensively every exaggerated account of 
"Indian cruelty,' 5 while the poor natives 
had no means of gaining the public ear. It 
therefore affords me much gratification to 
bear testimony of the philanthropy of some 
of the white men, and that his brethren 
had found compassion in the breasts of 
those who sought to do justice to the poor 
despised tribes of the wilderness: and I 
cannot refrain from presenting to my readers 
the following article which originally ap- 
peared in the Analectic Magazine, durino- 
thetime that the United States was engaged 
in a war with the Creek Indians. 

TRAITS OF INDIAN CHARACTER. 

"The rights of the savage have seldom 
been deeply appreciated by the white man- 
in peace he is the dupe of mercenary ra- 
pacity ; in war he is regarded as a ferocious 
animal, whose death is a question of mere 
precaution and convenience. Man is cruellv 
wasteful of life when his own safety is en- 
dangered, and he is sheltered by impunity • 

and little mercy is to be expected from him 
who feels the sting of the reptile, and is con- 
scious of the power to destrov. 

" It has been the lot of the unforunate 
aborigines of this country, to be doubly 
wronged by the white man — first, driven 
from their native soil by the sword of the 



APPENDIX. 



133 



invader, and then darkly slandered by the 
pen of the historian. The former has treated 
them like beasts of the forest ; the latter has 
written volumes to justify him in his out- 
rages. The former found it easier to ex- 
terminate than to civilize ; the latter to abuse 
than to discriminate. The hideous appel- 
lations of savage and pagan, were sufficient 
to sanction the deadly hostilities of both ; 
and the poor wanderers of the forest were 
persecuted and dishonoured, not because they 
were guilty, but because they were ignorant. 
"The same prejudices seem to exist, and are in 
common circulation, at the present day. We 
form our opinions of the Indian character 
from the miserable hordes that infest our 
frontiers. These, however, are degenerate 
beings, enfeebled by the vices of society, 
without being benefitted by its arts of living. 
The independence of thought and action, 
that formed the main pillar of their charac- 
ter, has been completely prostrated, and the 
whole moral fabric lies in ruins. Their 
spirits are debased by conscious inferiority, 
and their native courage completely daunted 
by the superior knowledge and power of 
their enlightened neighbours. Society has 
advanced upon them like a many-headed 
monster, breathing every variety of misery. 
Before it, went forth pestilence, famine and 
the sword; and in its train came the |lpw 5 
12 



APPENDIX. 



but exterminating curse of trade. What the 
former did not sweep away, the latter has 
gradually blighted. It has increased their 
w^ants, without increasing the means of gra- 
tification. It has enervated their strength, 
multiplied their diseases, blasted the powers 
of their minds, and superinduced on their 
original barbarity the low vices of civiliza- 
tion. Poverty, repining and hopeless pov- 
erty — a canker of the mind unknown to syl- 
van life — corrodes their very hearts. — They 
loiter like vagrants through the settlements, 
among spacious habitations replete with 
artificial comforts, which only render them 
sensible of the comparative wretchedness of 
their own condition. Luxury spreads its 
ample board before their eyes, but they are 
expelled from the banquet. The forest, 
which once furnished them with ample 
means of subsistence, has been levelled to 
the ground — waving fields of grain have 
sprung up in its place : but they have no 
participation in the harvest; plenty revels 
around them, but they are starving amidst 
its stores ; the whole wilderness blossoms 
like a garden, but they feel like the reptiles 
that infest it. 

" How different was their case while yet 
the undisputed lord of the soil. Their wants 
were few, and the means of gratifying them 
withiu their reach. They saw 7 every one 



APPENDIX. 



135 



around them sharing the same lot, enduring 
the same hardships, living in the same cabins, 
feeding on the same aliments, arrayed in the 
same rude garments. No roof then rose 
but what was open to the houseless stranger; 
no smoke curled among the trees, but he 
was welcome to sit down by its fire, and join 
the hunter in his repast. " For," says an 
old historian of New-England, " their life is 
so void of care, and they are so loving also, 
that they make use of those things they enjoy 
as common goods, and are therein so com- 
passionate that rather than one should starve 
through want, they would all starve : thus 
do they pass their time merrily, not regard- 
ing our pomp, but are better content with 
their own, which some men esteem so meanly 
of." Such were the Indians while in the 
pride and energy of primitive simplicity : 
they resemble those wild plants that thrive 
best in the shades of the forest, but which 
shrink from the hand of cultivation, and 
perish beneath the influence of the sun. 

"In the general rnode of estimating the 
savage character, we may perceive a vast 
degree of vulgar prejudice, and passionate 
exaggeration, without any of the temperate 
discussion of true philosophy. No allow- 
ance is made for the difference of circum- 
stances, and the operations of principles 
under which they have been educated. 



136 



APPENDIX. 



Virtue and vice, though radically the $a7ne, 
yet differ widely in their influence on human 
conduct, according to the habits and maxims 
of the society in which the individual is 
reared. No being acts more rigidly from 
rule than the Indian. His whole conduct is 
regulated according to some general maxims 
early implanted in his mind. The moral 
laws that govern him, to be sure, are but 
few, but then he conforms to them all. The 
white man abounds in laws of religion, 
morals, and manners; but how many does he 
violate ? 

" A common cause of accusation against 
the Indians is, the faithlessness of their 
friendships, and their sudden provocations to 
hostility. But we do not make allowance 
for their peculiar modes of thinking and 
feeling, and the principles by which they are 
governed. Besides, the friendship of the 
whites towards the poor Indians was ever 
cold, distrustful, oppressive, and insulting. 
In the intercourse with our frontiers they are 
seldom treated with confidence, and are fre- 
quently subject to injury and encroachment. 
The solitary savage feels silently but acutely; 
his sensibilities are not diffused over so wide 
a surface as those of the white man, but they - 
run in steadier and deeper channels. His 
pride, his affections, his superstitions, are 
all directed towards fewer objects, but the 



APPENDIX. 137 

wounds inflicted on them are proportionally 
severe, and furnish motives of hostility which 
we cannot sufficiently appreciate. Where a 
community is also limited in number, and 
forms, as in an Indian tribe, one great pat- 
riarchal family, the injury of the individual, 
is the injury of the whole ; and as their body 
politic, is small, the sentiment of vengeance 
is almost instantaneously diffused. One 
council fire is sufficient to decide the mea- 
sure. Eloquence and superstition combine 
■ to inflame their* minds. The orator awa- 
kens all their martial ardour, and they are 
wrought up to a kind of religious desperation 
by the visions of the prophet and the drea- 
mer. 

"'An instance of one of these sudden exas- 
perations, arising from a motive peculiar to 
the Indian character, is extant in an old re- 
cord of the early settlement of Massachusetts. 
The planters of Plymouth had defaced the 
monuments of the dead at Passonagessit, and 
had plundered the grave of the sachem's 
mother, of some skins with which it had been 
piously decorated, Every one knows the 
hallowed reverence which the Indians en- 
tertain for the sepulchres of their kindred. 
Even now, tribes that have passed genera- 
tions, exiled from the abode of their ances- 
tors, when by chance they have been travel- 
ling, on some mission to our seat of govern- 
*12 



13S 



APPENDIX. 



ment, have been known to turn aside from 
the highway for many miles distance, and 
guided by wonderful accurate tradition, have 
sought some tumulus, buried perhaps in the 
woods, where the bones of their tribe were 
anciently deposited; and there have passed 
some time in silent lamentation over the 
ashes of their forefathers. Influenced by 
this sublime and holy feeling, the sachem, 
whose mother's tomb had been violated, in 
the moment of indignation, gathered his men 
together, and addressed them in the follow- • 
ing beautifully simple and pathetic harangue 
— an harangue which has remianed unquoted 
for nearly two hundred years — a pure speci- 
men of Indian eloquence, and an affecting • 
monument of filial piety in a savage. 

"When last the glorious light of all the 
sky was underneath this globe, and birds 
grew silent, I began to settle as my custom 
is, to take repose. Before mine eyes were 
fast closed, methought I saw a vision, at 
which my spirit was much troubled; and, 
trembling at that doleful sight, a spirit cried 
aloud — behold, my son whom I have cher- 
ished, see the breasts ;%t gave thee suck, 
the hands that lapped thee warm and fed 
thee oft! canst thou forget to take revenge of 
those wild people, who have defaced my 
monument in a despiteful manner, disdain- 
ing our antiquities and honourable customs. 



APPENDIX. 



139 



See now, the sachem's grave lies like the 
common people, defaced by an ignoble race. 
Thy mother doth complain, and implores 
thy" aid against this thievish people, who 
have newly intruded in our land. If this 
be suffered I shall not rest quiet in my ever- 
lasting habitation. — This said, the spirit 
vanished, and I, all in a sweat, not able 
scarce to speak, began to get some strength 
and recollect my spirits that were fled, and 
determined to demand your counsel, and so- 
licit your assistance." 

Another cause of violent outcry against 
the Indians, is their inhumanity to the van- 
quished. This originally arose partly from 
political and partly from superstitious mo- 
tives. Where hostile tribes are scanty in 
their numbers, the death of several warriors 
completely paralyses their power ; and ma- 
ny an instance occurs in Indian history, 
where a hostile tribe, that had long been for- 
midable to its neighbour, has been broken 
up and driven away, by the capture of its 
principal fighting men. This is a strong 
temptation to the victor to be merciless, not 
so much as to gratify any cruelty of revenge, 
as to provide for future security. But they 
had other motives, originating in a supersti- 
tious idea, common to barbarous notions, and 
even prevalent among the Greeks and 
Romans — that the manes of their deceased 



140 



APPENDIX, 



friends slain in battle, were soothed by the 
blood of the captives. But those that are 
not thus sacrificd are adopted into their 
families, and treated with the confidence, 
and affection of relatives and friends ; nay, 
so hospitable and tender is their entertain- 
ment, that they will often prefer to remain 
with their adopted brethren, rather than 
return to the home and the friends of their 
youth. 

44 The inhumanity of the Indians towards 
their prisoners . has been heightened since 
the intrusion of the whites. We have exas- 
perated what . was formerly a compliance 
with policy and superstition into a gratifica- 
tion of vengeance. They cannot but be 
sensible that we are the usurpers of their 
ancient dominion, the cause of their degra- 
dation, and the gradual destroyers of their 
race. They go forth to battle smarting 
with injuries an i indignities which they have 
individually suffered from the injustice and 
the arrogance of white men, and they are 
driven to madness and despair, by the wide 
spreading desolation and the overwhelming 
ruin of our warfare. We set them an ex- 
ample of violence, by burning their villages, 
and laying waste their slender means of 
subsistence; and then wonder that savages 
mil not show moderation and magnanimity 



APPENDIX, 



141 



towards men, who have left them nothing 
but mere existence and wretchedness. 

« It is a common thing to exclaim against 
new forms of cruelty, while reconciled by 
custom, we wink at long established atroci- 
ties. What right does the generosity of our 
conduct give us to rail exclusively at Indian 
warfare. With all the doctrines of Christi- 
anity, and the advantages of cultivated mo* 
rals, to govern and direct us, what horrid 
crimes disgrace the victories of ^ Christian 
armies. Towns laid in ashes; cities given 
up to the sword ; enormities perpetrated, at 
which manhood blushes, and history drops 
the pen. Well may we exclaim at the out- 
rages of the scalping knife; but where, in 
the records of Indian barbarity, can we point 
to a violated female ? 

« We stigmatize the Indians also as cow- 
ardly and treacherous, because they use 
stratagem in warfare, in preference to open 
force ; but in this they are fully authorized 
by their rude code of honour. They are 
early taught that stratagem is praiseworthy; 
the bravest warrior thinks it no disgrace to 
lurk in silence and take every advantage of 
his foe. He triumphs in the superior craft 
and sagacity by which he has been enabled 
to surprise and massacre an enemy. Indeed, 
man is naturally more prone to subtlety than 
open valor, owing to his physical weakness 



142 APPENDIX. 

in comparison with other animals. They 
are endowed with natural weapons of de- 
fence ; with horns, with tusks, with hoofs 
and talons; but man has to depend on his 
superior sagacity. In all his encounters, 
therefore, with these, his proper enemies, 
he has to resort to stratagem : and when he 
perversely turns his hostility against his 
fellow man, he continues the same subtle 
mode of warfare. 

" The natural principle of war is to do the 
most harm to our enemy, with the least 
harm to ourselves ; and this of course is to be 
effected by cunning. That chivalric kind 
of courage which teaches us to despise the 
suggestions of prudence, and to rush in the 
face of certain danger, is the offspring of so- 
ciety, and produced by education. It is 
honourable, because in fact it is the triumph 
of lofty sentiment over an instinctive repug- 
nance to pain, and over those selfish yearn- 
ings after personal ease and security which 
society has condemned as ignoble. It is an 
emotion kept up by pride, and the fear of 
shame; and thus the dread of real evils is 
overcome by the superior dread of an evil 
that exists but in the mind. This may be 
instanced in the case of a young British 
officer of great pride, but delicate nerves, 
who was going for the first time into battle. 
Being agitated by the novelty and awful 



APPENDIX 



143 



peril of the scene, he was accosted by another 
officer, of a rough and boisterous character 
— " What, sir,** cried he, " do you trem- 
ble:' 5 "Yes sir,"'* replied the other, "and 
if you were half as much afraid as I am, you 
would run away." This young officer sig- 
nalized himself on many occasions by his 
gallantry, though had he been brought up 
in savage life, or even in a humbler and less 
responsible situation, it is more than proba- 
ble he could never have ventured into open 
action. 

" Besides, we must consider how much 
the quality of open and desperate courage, 
is cherished and stimulated by society. It 
has been the theme of many a spirit-stirring 
song, and chivalric story. The minstrel has 
sung of it in the loftiest strain of his lyre — 
the poet has delighted to shed around it all 
the splendours of fiction — and even the his- 
torian has forgotton the sober gravity of 
narration^ and burst forth into enthusiasm 
and rhapsody in its praise. Triumphs and 
gorgeous pageants have been its reward — 
monuments, where art has exhausted its 
skill, and opulence its treasures have been 
erected to perpetuate a nation's gratitude 
and admiration. Thus artificially excited, 
courage has arisen to an extraordinary and 
factitious degree of heroism ; and arrayed 
in all the glorious " pomp and circumstance" 



■ 

144 APPENDIX, 

of war, this turbulent quality has ever been 
able to eclipse many of those quiet, but in- 
valuable virtues, which silently enoble the 
human character, and swell the tide of human 
happiness. 

"But if courage intrinsically consist in the 
defiance of hunger and pain, the life of the 
Indian is a continual exhibition of it. He 
lives in a perpetual state of hostility and 
risk. — Peril and adventure are congenial to 
his nature; or rather, seem necessary to 
existence. Surrounded by hostile tribes, he 
is always equipped for fight, with his wea- 
pons in his hands. He traverses vast wilder- 
nesses, exposed to the hazards of lonely sick- 
ness, or lurking enemies, or pining famine. 
Stormy lakes present no obstacle to his wan- 
derings ; in his light canoe of bark, he sports 
like a feather on their waves, and darts with 
the swiftness of an arrow down the roaring- 
rapids of the river. — Trackless wastes of 
snow, rugged mountains, the glooms of 
swamps and morasses, where poisonous rep- 
tiles curl among the rank vegetation, are 
fearlessly encountered by this wanderer of 
the wilderness. He gains his food by the 
hardships and dangers of the chase ; he wraps 
himself in the spoils of the bear, the pan- 
ther, and the buffalo, and sleeps among the 
thunders of the cataract. 



APPENDIX. 



145 



; - No hero of ancient or modern days can 
surpass the Indian in his lofty contempt of 
death, and the fortitude with which he sus- 
tains all the varied torments with which it is 
frequently inflicted. Indeed we here behold 
him rising superior to the white man, merely 
in consequence of his peculiar education. 
The latter rushes to glorious death at the 
cannon's mouth ; the former cooly con- 
templates its approach, and triumphantly 
endures it, amid the torments of the knife 
and the protracted agonies of fire. He even 
takes a savage delight in taunting his perse- 
cutors, and provoking their ingenuity of 
torture; and as the devouring flames prey 
on his very vitals, and the flesh shrinks from 
the sinews, he raises his last song of triumph, 
breathing the defiance of an unconquered 
heart, and invoking the spirits of his fathers 
to witness that he dies without a groan. 

" Notwithstanding all the obloquy with 
which the early historians of the colonies 
have overshadowed the characters of the 
unfortunate natives, some bright gleams will 
occasionally breakthrough, that throw a de- 
gree of melancholy lustre on their memo- 
ries. Facts are occasionally to be met with, 
in their rude annals, which, though recorded 
with all the colouring of prejudice and bigo- 
try, yet speak for themselves ; and will be 
13 



146 



APPENDIX. 



dwelt on with applause and sympathy, when 
prejudice shall have passed away, 

" In one of the homely naratives of the 
Indian wars in New-England, there is a 
touching account of the desolation carried 
into the tribe of the Pequod Indians. Hu- 
manity shudders at the cold-blooded accounts 
given, of indiscriminate butchery on the part 
of the settlers. In one place we read of the 
surprisal of an Indian fort in the night, when 
the wigwams were wrapped in flames, and 
the miserable inhabitants were shot down and 
slain, in attempting to escape, " all being 
dispatched and ended in the course of an 
hour." After a series of similar transac- 
tions, " Our soldiers, 5 ' as the historian 
piously observes, " being resolved by God's 
assistance to make a final destruction of 
them." The unhappy savages being hunted 
from their homes and fortresses, and pursued 
with fire and sword, a scanty but gallant 
band, the sad remnant of the Pequod war- 
riors, with their wives and children, took 
refuge in a swamp. 

" Burning with indignation, and rendered 
sullen by despair — with hearts bursting with 
grief at the destruction of their tribe, and 
spirits galled and sore at the. fancied igno- 
miny of their defeat, they refused to ask 
their lives at the hands of an insulting foe, 
and preferred death to submission. 



APPENDIX, 147 

" As the night drew on they were sur- 
rounded in their dismal retreat, in such 
manner as to render escape impracticable. 
Thus situated, their enemy " plied them 
with shot all the time, by which means many 
were killed and buried in the mire. In the 
darkness and fog that precedes the dawn of 
day, some few broke through the besiegers 
and escaped into the woods ; " the rest were 
left to the conquerers, of which many were 
killed in the swamp, like sullen dogs who 
would rather, in their self-willedness and 
madness, sit still and be shot through, or cut 
to pieces," than implore for mercy. When 
the day broke upon this handful of forlorn, 
but dauntless spirits, the soldiers we are 
told, entered the swamp, "saw several 
heaps of them sitting close together, upon 
whom they discharged their peices, laden 
with ten or twelve pistol bullets at a time; 
putting the muzzles of their peices under 
the boughs, within a few yards of them ; so 
as, besides those that were found dead, many 
more were killed and sunk into the mire, 
and never were minded more by friend or 
foe." 

" Can any one read this plain unvarnished 
tale, without admiring the stern resolution, 
the unbending pride, and loftiness of spirit, 
that seemed to nerve the hearts of these 
self taught heroes, and raise them above the 



148 



APPENDIX, 



instinctive feelings of human nature ? When 
the Gauls laid waste the city of Rome, thev 
found the nobles clothed in their robes, and 
seated with stern tranquility in their curule 
chairs ; in this manner they suffered deaths 
without an attempt at supplication or resis- 
tance. Such conduct in them was applau- 
ded as noble and magnanimous ; in the 
hapless Indian it was reviled as obstinate 
and sullen. How much are we the dupes of 
show and circumstance! How different is 
virtue arrayed in purple, and enthroned in 
state, from virtue destitute and naked,, redu- 
ced to the last stage of wretchedness, and 
perishing obscurely in a wilderness. 

"Do these records of ancient excesses 
fill us with disgust and aversion? Let u& 
take heed that we do not suffer ourselves to 
be hurried into the same iniquities, Pos- 
terity lifts up its hands with horror at past 
misdeeds; because the passions that urged 
to them, are not felt, and the arguments that 
persuaded to them are forgotten: but we 
are reconciled to the present perpetration 
of injustice by all the selfish motives with 
which interest chills the heart and silences 
the conscience. Even at the present ad- 
vanced day, when we should suppose that 
enlightened philosophy had expanded our 
minds, and true religion had warmed our 
hearts into philanthrophy — when w r e have 



APPENDIX. 



149 



been admonished by a sense of past trans- 
gressions, and insructed by the indignant 
censures of candid history — even now, we 
perceive a disposition breaking out to renew 
the persecutions of these hapless beings. 
Sober-thoughted men, far from the scenes 
of danger, in the security of cities and popu- 
lous regions, can cooly talk of " extermina- 
ting measures," and discuss the policy of 
extirpating thousands. If such is the talk of 
the cities, what is the temper displayed on 
the borders ? The sentence of desolation 
has gone forth — 6 i the roar is up amidst the 
woods;" implacable wrath, goaded on by 
interest and prejudice, is ready to confound 
all rights, trample on all claims of justice 
and humanity, and to aet over those scenes 
of sanguinary vengeance which have too 
often stained the pages of colonial history. 
These are not the idle suggestions of fancy ; 
they are wrung forth by facts, which still 
haunt the public mind. 

"As yet our government has in some 
measure restrained the tide of vengeance, 
and inculcated lenity towards the hapless 
Indians. Such temper is worthy of an 
enlightened government — let it still be ob- 
served — -let sharp rebuke and signal pun- 
ishment be inflicted on those who abuse 
their delegated power, and disgrace their 
victories with massacre and conflagration . 
13* 



)50 APPENDIX. 

The enormities of the Indians form no excuse 
for the enormities of white men. It has 
pleased heaven to give them but limited 
powers of mind, and feeble lights to guide 
their judgments : it becomes us who are 
blessed with higher intelects to think for 
them, and set them an example of humanity. 
It is the nature of vengeance, if unrestrained, 
to be headlong in its actions, and to lay up, 
in a moment of passion, ample cause for an 
age's repentance. We may roll over these 
miserable beings with our chariot wheels,, 
and crush them to the earth ; but when pas- 
sion has subsided, and it is two late to pity or 
to save — we shall look back with unavailing 
compunction at the mangled corses of those 
whose cries were unheeded in the fury of 
our career. 

"In a little while, the remaining tribes 
will go the way that so many have gone 
before. The few hordes that still linger 
about the shores of Huron and Superior, 
and the tributary streams of the Mississippi, 
will share the fate of those tribes that once 
lorded it along the proud banks of the Hud- 
son; of that gigantic race that are said to 
have existed on the borders of the Susque- 
hanna, and of those various nations, that 
flourished about the Potowmac and the 
Rappahanoc, and that peopled the forests of 
the vast valley Shenandoah. They will 



APPENDIX. 



151 



vanish like a vapour from the face of the 
earth — their very history will be lost in 
forgetfuiness — and " the places that now 
know them, will know them no more for- 
ever.'' 

" Or if perchance some dubious memorial 
of them should survive the lapse of time, it 
may be in the romantic dreams of the poet, 
to " populate in imagination his glades and 
groves, like the fauns and satyrs, and sylvan 
deities of antiquity. But should he venture 
upon the dark * story of their wrongs and 
wretchedness— should he tell how they were 
invaded, corrupted, despoiled — driven from 
their native abodes and the sepulchres of 
their fathers — hunted like wild beasts about 
the earth, and sent down in violence and 
butchery to the grave — posterity will either 
turn with horror and incredulity from the 
tale, or blush with indignation at the inhu- 
manity of their forefathers.— ; - We are driven 
back/' said an old warrior, " until we can 
retreat no further — our hatchets are broken 
— our bows are snapped — our fires are 
nearly extinguished — a little longer and 
the white men will cease to persecute us — 
for we will cease to exist!" 

The warlike ability of the Indians has 
been very generally despised by European 
officers — and this opinion has cost many 
thousands of men their lives. The following 



152 



APPENDIX. 



brief account of their military conduct, will 
not be uninteresting to the general reader, 
and it will show from good authority, that 
the number of Indians engaged in every bat- 
tle, in which they proved victorious, has 
always been exaggerated by their enemies 
— and European officers particularly, having 
often been beaten by a comparatively small 
number of untutored natives of the forests, 
have been led to give very false reports of 
the combats in which they have been en- 
gaged. 

" In Col. Boquet'slast campaign of 1764, 
I saw, (says Col. Smith,) the official return 
made by the British officers, of the number 
of Indians that were in arms against us in that 
year, which amounted to thirty thousand. 
As I was then lieutenant in the British 
service, I told them I was of opinion, that 
there was not above one thousand in arms 
against us, as they were divided by Broad- 
street's army, being then at Lake Erie. 
The British officers hooted at me, and said 
that they could not make England sensible 
of the difficulties they laboured under in 
fighting them ; and it was expected that their 
troops could fight the undisciplined savages 
in America, five to one as they did the East 
Indians, and therefore my report would not 
answer their purprse, as they could not give 



APPENDIX, 



155 



an honourable account of the war but by 
augmenting their numbers. 

1 - Smith's opinion was, that from Braddoek's 
defeat, until the time of his writing, there 
never ^ere more than three thousand In- 
dians, at any time in arms against us, west of 
Fort Pitt, said frequently not more than half 
of that number. 

Boudinout says, that " According to the In- 
dians own account, during the whole of 
Braddock's war, or from 1755 to 1T5S, they 
killed and took fifty of our people for one 
that they lost. In the war of 1763, they 
killed, comparatively, few of our people, 
and lost more of theirs, as the frontier inha- 
bitants, especially the Virginians, had learn- 
ed something of their method of war ; yet 
even in this war, according to their account 
(which Smith believed to be true,) they 
killed and took ten of our people for one 
they lost. 

"The Indians, though few in number, put 
the government to immense expense of blood 
and treasure, in the war from 1756 to 1791.. 
The following campaigns in the western 
country, will be a proof of this, 

" General Braddock's in the year 1755 — * 
Col. Armstrong's against the Chataugau 
town, on the Alleghany, in 1757 — General 
Forbe's in 1758— Gen. Stanwix's in 1759 — ■ 
Gen. Moncton's in 1760— Col. Boquets in 



1 54 APPENDIX. 

1761 — and again in 1763, when he fought 
the battle of Brushy Run, and lost above one 
hundred men ; but by taking the advice and 
assistance of the Virginia volunteers, finally 
drove the Indians — Col. Armstrong's up the 
west branch of the Susquehanna in the 
same year — Gen. Broadstreet's up Lake 
Erie in 1764 — Col. Boquet's at Muskingum 
at the same time — Lord Dunmore's in 1774, 
Gen. M'Intosh's in 1778, and again in 1880, 
—Col. Bowman's in 1779— Gen. Clark's 
in 1782 — and against the Wabash Indian's 
in 1776 — Gen. Logan's against the Shaw- 
nese in the same year, and Col. Harmer's in 
1790— Gen. Wilkinson's in 1791,— Gen. 
St. Clair's in 1791, and Gen. Wayne's in 
1794, which in all are twenty three cam- 
paigns, besides smaller expeditions, such as 
the French creek expedition. Colonels 
Edward's, Loughrie's, &c. All these were 
exclusive of the numbers of men who were 
internally employed as scouting parties, in 
erecting forts, guarding stations, &c. he. 

" When we take the foregoing account 
into consideration, may we not reasonably 
conclude, that the Indians are the best disci- 
plined troops in the world, especially when 
we consider, that the ammunition and arms 
that they are obliged to use, are of the worst 
sort, without bayonets or cartouch boxes. 
No artificial means of carrying either bag- 



APPENDIX. 



155 



gage or provisions, while their enemies have 
every warlike implement, and other resour- 
ces, to the utmost of their desire. Is not 
that the best discipline, that has the greatest 
tendency to annoy an enemy, and save their 
own men? It is apprehended that the Indian 
discipline is better calculated to answer 
their purpose in the woods of America, than 
the British discipline in the plains of Flan- 
ders. British discipline, in the woods is the 
way to have men slaughtered, with scarcely 
any chance to defend themselves. 

" Privates. — The Indians sum up their 
art of war thus — ' The business of the pri- 
vate \tfarrior is to be under command, or 
punctually to obey orders — to learn to march 
a-breast in scattered order, so as to be in 
readiness to surround the enemy, or to pre- 
vent being surrounded — to be a good marks- 
man, and active in the use of their musket 
or rifle — to practice running — to learn to 
endure hunger or hardships with patience 
and fortitude — to tell the truth at all times 
to their officers, more especially when sent 
out to spy the enemy. 

" Concerning Officers. — They say that it 
would be absurd to appoint a man to an 
office, whose skill and courage had never been 
tried — that all officers should be advanced 
only according to merit — that no single man 
should have the absolute command of an 



156 APPENDIX. 

army— that the counsel of officers should de- 
termine when and how an attack is made 
— that it is the duty of officers to lay plans, 
and take every advantage of the enemy — to 
ambush and surprise them, and to prevent 
the like to themselves. It is the duty of 
officers to prepare and deliver speeches to 
the men, in order to animate and encour- 
age them, and on a march to prevent the 
men, at any time, getting into a huddle, be- 
cause if the enemy should surround them in 
that position, they would be greatly exposed 
to the enemy's fire. It is likewise their bu- 
siness, at all times, to endeavour to annoy 
the enemy, and save their own men; and 
therefore ought never to bring on an attack 
without considerable advantage, or without 
what appeared to them to insure victory, 
and that with a loss of but few men. And 
if at any time they should be mistaken in 
this, and are likely to lose many men in 
gaining the victory, it is their duty to retreat, 
and wait for a better opportunity of defeat- 
ing their enemy, without the danger oi 
losing so many men.' Their conduct proves 
that they act on these principles. 

" This is the statement given by those whc 
are experimentally acquainted with them, 
and as long as the British officers despisec 
both Indians and Americans, who studiec 
their art of war, and formed themselves or 



APPENDIX, 



157 



the same plan, they were constantly beaten 
by those soldiers of nature, though seldom 
one fourth of the number of the British. But 
the British officers had one advantage of 
them. This was the art of drawing up and 
reporting to their superiors, plans of their 
battles, and exaggerated accounts of their 
great success, and the immense loss of the 
Indians, which were never thought of till 
long after the battle was over, and often 
while they were smarting under their severe 
defeat or surprise. 

When the Indians determine on war or 
hunting, they have stated preparatory, re- 
ligious ceremonies, for purification, particu- 
larly by fasting, as the Israelites had. 

"Father Charlevoix gives an account of 
this custom in his time. In case of an in- 
tention of going to war, he who is to com- 

, mand does not commence the raising of 
soldiers, till he has fasted several days* 
during which he is smeared with black — 

! has no conversation with any one — invokes 
by day and night, his tutelar spirit, and above 
all, is very careful to observe his dreams* 
The fast being over, he assembles his friends, 
and w th a string of wampum in his hands, 
he speaks to them after this manner. Breth- 
ren! the great spirit authorizes my senti- 
ments, and inspires me with what I ought to 

do. The blood of- is not wiped away — 

14 



158 



APPENDIX* 



his body is not covered, and I will acquit 
myself of this duty towards him." &c. 

Mr. M'Kenzie in some measure confirms 
this account though among different nations. 
"If the tribes feel themselves called upon 
to go to war the elders convene the people 
in order to obtain the general opinion. If 
it be for war, the chief publishes his inten- 
tion to smoke in the sacred stem (a pipe) at 
a certain time. To this solemnity, medita- 
tion and fasting are required as preparatory 
ceremonials. When the people are thus as- 
sembled, and the meeting sanctified by the 
custom of smoking (this may be in imitation 
of the smoke of the incense offered on the 
altar of the Jews) the chief enlarges on the 
causes which have called them together, and 
the necessity of the measures proposed on 
the occasion. He then invites them who 
are willing to follow him, to smoke out of 
the sacred stem, which is considered as a 
token of enrolment." A sacred feast then 
takes place, and after much ceremony, usual 
on such occasions, "the chief turning to the 
east, makes a speech to explain more fully 
the design of their meeting, then concludes 
with an acknowledgement for past mercies 
received, and a prayer for the continuance 
of them, from the master of life. He then 
sits down, and the whole company declare 
their approbation and thanks by uttering the 



APPENDIX. 



159 



word Ho /"(in a very hoarse, guttural sound, 
being the third syllable of the beloved 
name,) " with an emphatic promulgation of 
the last letter. The chief then takes up the 
pipe, and holds it to the mouth of the offi- 
ciating person," (like a priest of the jews, 
with the incense) " who after smoking three 
whiffs, utters a short prayer, and then goes 
round with it from east to west, to every 
person present." The ceremony then being 
ended, " he returns the company thanks for 
their attendance, and wishes them, as well 
as the whole tribe, health and long life." 

Do not these practices remind the reader 
of the many directions in the jewish ritual, 
commanding the strict purification or sanc- 
tifying individuals about to undertake great 
business, or enter on important offices. 

" The Indians, by oppression, diseases, 
wars and ardent spirits, have greatly dimin- 
ished in numbers, degenerated in their moral 
character, and lost their high standing as 
warriors, especially those contigous to our 
settlements. 

" The very ancient men who have wit- 
nessed the former glory and prosperity of 
their country, or who have heard from the 
mouths of their ancestors, and particularly 
from their beloved men, (whose office it is 
to repeat their traditions and laws to the 
rising generations, with the heroic achieve- 



160 



APPENDIX. 



ments of their forefathers) the former state 
of their country with the great prowess and 
success of their warriors of old times, they 
weep like infants, when they speak of the 
fallen condition of their nations. They de- 
rive however some consolation from a pro- 
phecy of ancient origin and universal cur- 
rency among them, that the men of America 
will, at some future period, regain their an- 
cient ascendency and expel the man of Eu- 
rope from this western hemisphere. This 
flattering and consolatory persuasion has 
enabled the Seneca and Shawnese prophets 
to arrest, in some tribes, the use of intoxi- 
cating liquors, and has given birth, at diffe- 
rent periods, to attempts for a general con- 
federacy of the Indians of North America." 
Clinton. 

The compiler of the Star in the West was 
present at a dinner given by general Knox 
to a number of Indians, in the year 1789, at 
New-York ; they had come to the president 
on a mission from their nations. The house 
was in Broadway. A little before dinner, 
two or three of the Sachems, with their chief 
or principle man, went into the balcony at 
the front of the house, the drawing room 
being up-stairs. From this they had a view 
of the city, the harbour, Long-Island, &c. 
After remaining there a short time, they re- 
turned into the room, apparently dejected ; 



APPENDIX. 16] 

but the chief more than the rest. General 
Knox took notice of it, and said to him, 
brother ! what has happened to you ?— You 
look sorry ! — Is there any thing to distress 
you ? He answered — I'll tell you, brother. 
I have been looking at your beautiful city — 
the great water — your fine country — and see 
how happy you all are. But then, I could 
not help thinking, that this fine country and 
this great water was once ours. Our an- 
cestors lived here — they enjoyed it as their 
own in peace — it was the gift of the great 
spirit to them and their children. At last 
the white people came here in a great canoe. 
They asked only to let them tie it to a tree, 
lest the Waters should carry it away — we 
consented. They then said some of their 
people were sick, and they asked permission 
to land them and put them under the shade 
of the trees. The ice then came, and they 
could not go away. They then begged a 
piece of land to build wigwams for the win- 
ter — we granted it to them. They then 
asked for some corn to keep them from 
starving — we kindly furnished it to them, 
they promising to go away when the ice was 
gone. When this happened, we told them 
they must now go aw T ay with their big canoe ; 
but they pointed to their big guns round 
their wigwams, and said they would stay 
there, and we could not make them go away. 
14* 



162 



APPENDIX, 



Afterwards, more come. They brought 
spirituous and intoxicating liquors with them, 
of which the Indians became very fond* 
They persuaded us to sell them some land. 
Finally they drove us back, from time to 
time, into the wilderness, far from the water, 
and the fish, and the oysters— they have de- 
stroyed the game— our people have wasted 
away, and now we live miserable and 
wretched, while you are enjoying our fine 
and beautiful country. This makes me 
sorry, brother! and I cannot help it!" 

From the great similarity of the manners 
and customs of the Indian natives and those 
recorded of the jews, many learned men 
have come to the conclusion that the Indian 
tribes are none other than the descendants 
of the ten lost tribes of Judah. If not, in 
what manner can we account for this simila- 
rity? Their religious emblems are nearly 
of the same import — their rites and cere- 
monies in many respects do not differ essen- 
tially — there is an evident approach in many 
instances between the two languages,* and 
withal there is ^personal resemblance. 

The late Wm. Penn, who was acquainted 

* There are but two mother tongues, it is said, 
among the Northen Indians, including those tribes 
that inhabit the Mississippi, the Huron and Algon- 
quin. There is not more difference between these 3 
than between the Norman and French. 



APPEN DIX- 



with the natives before they became cor- 
rupted by the whites, was exceedingly struck 
with their appearance, and in one of his let- 
ters to a friend in England 5 he says, " I found 
them with like countenance with the Jewish 
race ; and their children of so lively a re- 
semblance to them, that a man would think 
himself in Duke's-place or Berry-street, in 
London, when he seeth them." (Penn's 
Works, 2d vol. 80p. year 1682.) They wore 
ear-rings and nose jewels ; bracelets on 
their arms and legs; rings on their fingers ; 
necklaces made of highly polished shells 
found in their rivers and on their coasts. 
Their females tied up their hair behind, 
worked bands round their heads, and orna- 
mented them with shells and feathers, and 
are fond of strings of beads round several 
parts of their bodies. They use shells and 
turkey spurs round the tops of their mocasins, 
to tinkle like little bells, as they walk." 
Isaiah proves this to have been the custom 
of the Jewish women, or something much 
like it. " In that day, says the prophet, the 
Lord will take away the bravery of their 
tinkling ornaments about their feet, and 
their cauls, and their round tires like the 
moon. The chains and the bracelets and 
the mufflers. The bonnets and the orna- 
ments of the legs, and the head-bands, and 
the tablets, and the ear-rings ; the rings and 



164 APPENDIX. 

the nose jewels." Isaiah, iii. 18. They 
religiously observed certain feasts, and feasts 
very similar to those enjoined on the He- 
brews, by Moses, as will hereinafter more 
particularly be shown. In short, many, and 
indeed, it may be said, most of the learned 
men, who did pay any particular attention 
to these natives of the wilderness at their 
first coming among them, both English and 
Spaniards, were struck with their" general 
likeness to the Jews. The Indians in New- 
Jersey, about 1681, are described, as persons 
straight in their limbs, beyond the usual 
proportion in most nations; very seldom 
crooked or deformed ; their features regular ; 
their countenances somewhat fierce, in com- 
mon rather resembling a Jew than a Chris- 
tian. — Smith's History of New Jersey. 

In general the indian languages are very 
" copious and expressive," considering the 
narrow sphere in which they move. In 
comparison with civilized nations, their 
ideas are few. In their language, we find 
neither cases or declensions, a few or no 
prepositions. This has been remarked more 
particularly, as there is no language known 
in Europe, except the Hebrew, without 
prepositions. The public speeches of the 
indians are short but bold, nervous, and 
abounding with metaphor. For instance, 
the speech made by Lagan, a famous Indian 



APPENDIX, 



165 



chief, about the year 1775, was never ex- 
ceeded by Demosthenes or Cicero. In 
revenge for a murder committed by some 
unknown Indians, a party of our people fired 
on a canoe loaded with women and children, , 
and one man, all of whom happened to be- 
long to the family of Logan, who had been 
long the staunch friend of the Americans, 
and then at perfect peace with them. A 
war immediately ensued, and after much 
blood-shed on both sides, the Indians were 
beat and sued for peace. A treaty was 
held, but Logan disdainfully refused to be 
reckoned among the suppliants ; but to pre- 
vent any disadvantage from his absence, to 
his nation, he sent the following talk, to be 
delivered to Lord Dunmore at the treaty : — 
" I appeal to any white man to say, if he 
ever entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he 
gave him no meat — if ever he came cold 
and naked, and Logan clothed him not. 
During the course of the last long and 
bloody war, Logan remained idle in his 
cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was 
his love for the white men, that my coun- 
trymen pointed as they passed, and said* 
Logan is the friend of white men. I had 
thought to have lived with you, but for the 

injuries of one man. Colonel the last 

spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, mur- 
dered all the relations of Logan, not sparing 



APPENDIX. 



even my women and children. There runs 
not a drop of his blood in the veins of any 
living creature. This calls on me for re- 
venge. I have sought it. I have killed 
many. I have fully glutted my vengeance. 
For my country, I rejoice at the beams of 
peace. But do not harbour a thought that 
mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt 
fear. He will not turn on his heel to save 
his lim. Who is there to mourn for Logan? 
No, not one." 

" Great allowance must be made for trans- 
lations into another language, especially by 
illiterate and ignorant interpreters. This 
destroys the force as well as beauty of the 
original. 

" A writer (Adair) who has had the best 
opportunities to know the true idiom of their 
language, by a residence among them for 
forty years, has taken great pains to show 
the similarity of the Hebrew with the Indian 
languages, both in their roots and general 
construction ; and insists that many of the 
indian words to this day, are purely Hebrew, 
notwithstanding their exposure to the loss 
of it to such a degree, as to make the 
preservation of it so far, little less than 
miraculous." 

Mr. Boudinot in his able work states, " as 
a matter of curiosity, that the Mohawks, in 
confederacy with the Five Nations, as sub- 



APPENDIX. 



167 



sisting at the first arrival of the Europeans 
in America, were considered as the lawgiv- 
ers, or the interpreters of duty to the other 
tribes. Nay, this was so great, that all paid 
obedience to their advice. They consider- 
ed themselves as supreme, or first among 
the rest. Mr. Colden says, that he had been 
told by old men in New England, that when 
their Indians were at war, formerly with the 
Mohawks, as soon as one appeared, their 
Indians raised a cry from hill to hill, a Mo- 
hawk ! a Mohawk ! upon which all fled like 
sheep before a wolf, without attempting to 
make the least resistance. And that all the 
nations around them, have for many years, 
entirely submitted to their advice, and pay 
them a yearly tribute of wampum. The 
tributary nations dare not make war or peace, 
without the consent of the Mohawks. Mr. 
Colden has given a speech of the Mohawks, 
in answer to one from the governor of Vir- 
ginia, complaining of the confederate nations, 
which shows the Mohawks' superiority over 
them, and the mode in which they corrected 
their misdoings. Now it seems very remark • 
able that the Hebrew word Mhhokek, spel- 
led so much like the Indian word, means a 
law-giver, (or leges interpres) or a superior. 

" Blind chance could not have directed 
so great a number of remote and warring 
savage nations to fix on, and unite in so nice 



168 



APPENDIX. 



a religious standard of speech, and even 
grammatical construction of language, where 
there was no knowledge of letters or syntax. 
For instance, A, oo, EA, is a strong religi- 
ous Indian emblem, signifying, I climb, as- 
cend or remove to another place of residence. 
It points to A-no-wah, the first person singu- 
lar, and O E A, or Yah, He, Wah, and im- 
plies putting themselves under the divine 
patronage. The beginning of that most 
sacred symbal, is by studious skill and 
thorough knowledge of the power of letters, 
placed twice, to prevent them from being 
applied to the sacred name, for vain purpo- 
ses, or created things. 

" Though they lost the true meaning of 
their religious emblems, except what a very 
few of the more intelligent traders revive 
in their retentive memories of the old inqui- 
sitive magi, or beloved man ; yet tradition 
directs them to apply them properly. They 
use many plain religious emblems of the 
divine name, as Y, O, he wah — Yah and 
Ale, and these are the roots of the prodigi- 
ous number of words, through their various 
dialects. It is worthy of remembrance, that 
two Indians, who belong to far distant na- 
tions, without the knowledge of each others 
language, except from the general idiom, 
will intelligibly converse together, and con- 
tract engagements without any interpreter. 



APPENDIX. 



169 



in such a surprising manner, as is scarcely 
credible. In like manner we read of Abra- 
ham, Isaac and Jacob, travelling from coun- 
try to country, from Chaldea into Palestine,, 
when inhabited by various differing nations 
— thence into Egypt and back again, making 
engagements, and treating with citizens 
wherever they went. But we never read 
of any difficulty of being understood, or 
their using an interpreter. 

"The Indians generally express them- 
selves with great vehemence and short 
pauses, in their set public speeches. Their 
periods are well turned, and very sonorous 
and harmonious. Their words are specially 
chosen, and well disposed, with great care 
and knowledge of their subject and language, 
to show the being, power, and agency of the 
great spirit in all that concerns them. 

"To speak in general terms, their lan- 
guage in their roots, idiom, and particular 
construction, appears to have the whole 
genus of the Hebrew, and what is very re- 
markable, and well worthy of serious obser- 
vation, has most of the peculiarities of that 
language, especially those in which it differs 
from most other languages ; and " often both 
in letters and signification, synonimous with 
the Hebrew language." They call the 
lightning and thunder, Eloha 3 and its rumb- 
ling noise Rowah; which may not ? impro- 
15 



170 



APPENDIX, 



perly be deduced from the Hebrew word 
Ruach, a name of the third person in the 
holy Trinity, originally signifying "the air 
in motion or a rushing wind." — Faber. 

The Indian compounded words are gene- 
rally pretty long, but those that are radical 
or simple, are mostly short ; very few, if 
any of them, exceed three or four syllables. 
And as. their dialects are guttural, every 
word contains some consonants, and these 
are the essential characteristics of language. 
Where they deviate from this rule, it is by 
religious emblems, which obviously proceeds 
from the great regard they pay to the names 
of the Deity, especially to the great four 
lettered divine, essential name, by using the 
letters it contains, and the vowels it was 
originally pronounced with, to convey a vir- 
tuous idea ; or by doubling or transposing 
them, to signify the contrary. In this, all the 
Indian nations agree. And as this general 
custom must proceed from one primary 
cause, it seems to assure us, that the people 
was not in a savage state when they first 
separated, and. varied their dialects with so 
much religious care and exact art." 

Mr. Boudinot, speaking of the Indian tra- 
ditions as received by their nations, says, 
not having the assistance afforded by the 
means of writing and reading, they are 
obliged to have recourse to tradition, as Da 



APPENDIX. i'A 

Pratz, 2 vol. 169, has justly observed, " to 
preserve the remembrance of remarkable 
transactions or historical facts ; and this tra- 
dition cannot be preserved, but by frequent 
repetitions; consequently many 'of their 
young men are often employed in hearken- 
ing to the old beloved men, narrating the 
history of their ancestors, which is thus 
transmitted from generation to generation-** 
" In order to preserve them pure and incor- 
rupt, they are careful not to deliver them 
indifferently to all their young people, but 
only to those young men of whom they have 
the best opinion. They hold it as a certain 
fact, as delivered -down from their ancestors, 
that their forefathers, in very remote ages, 
came from a far distant country, by the way 
of the west, where all the people were of 
one colour, and that in process of time they 
moved eastward to their present settle- 
ments." 

This tradition is corroborated by a current 
report among them, related by the old 
Chickkasah Indians to our traders, that now 
about 100 years ago, there came from Mex- 
ico, some of the old Chickkasah nation, or 
as the Spaniards call them, Chichemicas, in 
quest of their brethren, as far north as the 
Aquahpah nation, above one hundred and 
thirty miles above the Natchez, on the south 
east side of the Mississippi river ; but 





172 



APPENDIX. 



through French policy, they were either 
killed or sent back, so as to prevent their 
opening a brotherly intercourse with them, 
as they had proposed. It is also said, that 
the Nauatalcas believe that they dwelt in 
another region before they settled'in Mexico. 
That their forefathers wandered eighty years 
in search of it, through a strict obedience to 
the commands of the great spirit, who or- 
dered them to go in quest of new lands, that 
had such particular marks as were made 
known to them, and they punctually obeyed 
the divine mandate, and by that means found 
out and settled that fertile country of Mexico. 

Our southern Indians have also a tradition 
among them which they firmly believe, that 
of old time, their ancestors lived beyond a 
great river. That nine parts of their nation, 
out often, passed over the river, but the re- 
mainder refused, and staid behind. That 
they had a king when they lived far to the 
west, who left two sons. That one of them, 
with a number of his people, travelled a 
great way for many years, till they came to 
Delaware river, and settled there. That 
some years ago, the king of the country from 
which they had emigrated, sent a party in 
search of them. This was at the time the 
French were in possession of the country on 
the river Alleghany. That after seeking six 
years, they found an Indian who led them 



APPENDIX. 1*3 

to the Delaware towns, where they staid one 
year. That the French sent a white man 
with them on their return, to bring back an 
account of their country, but they have 
never been heard of since. 

It is said among their principal, or beloved 
men, that they have it handed down from 
their ancestors, that the book which the 
white people have was once theirs. That 
while they had it they prospered exceed- 
ingly ; but that the pale people bought it 
of them, and learnt many things from it; 
while the Indians lost their credit, offended 
the great spirit, and suffered excedingly 
from the neighbouring nations. That the 
great spirit took pity on them and directed 
them to this country. That on their way 
they came to a great river, which they could 
not pass, when God dried up the waters and 
they passed over dry shod. They also say 
that their forefathers were possessed of an 
extraordinary divine spirit, by which they 
foretold future events, and controled the 
common course of nature, and this they 
transmitted to their offspring, on condition 
of their obeying the sacred laws. That they 
did by these means bring down showers of 
plenty on the beloved people. But that 
this power for a long time past, had entirely 
ceased. 

The reverend gentlemen mentioned treibre, 
IS* 



174 



APPENDIX. 



who had taken so much pains in the year 
1764 or 5, to travel far westward, to "find 
Indians who had never seen a white man. 
informed the writer of these memoirs, that 
far to the northwest of the Ohio, he attended 
a party of Indians to a treaty, with Indians 
from the west of the Mississippi. Here 
he found the people he was in search of— he 
conversed with their beloved man who had 
never seen a white man before, by the as- 
sistance of three grades of interpreters. The 
Indian informed him, " that one of their 
ancient traditions was, that a great while 
ago, they had a common father, who lived 
towards the rising of the sun, and governed 
the whole world. That all the white people's 
heads were under his feet. That he had 
twelve sons, by whom he administered his 
government. That his authority was derived 
from the great spirit, by virtue of some 
special gift from him. That the twelve sons 
behaved very bad and tyrannized over the 
people, abusing their power to a great de- 
gree, so as to offend the great spirit exceed- 
ingly. That he being thus angry with them, 
suffered the white people to introduce 
spirituous liquors among them, made them 
drunk, stole the special gift of the great 
spirit from them, and by this means usurped 
the power over them, and ever since the 
Indians' heads where under the white people"? 



APPENDIX. 



175 



zeei, But that they also had a tradition, 
that the time would come, when the Indians 
would regain the gift of the great spirit from 
the white people, and with it their ancient 
power, when the white people's heads would 
be again under the Indian's feet. 

Mr. M'Kenzie in his History of the Fur 
Trade, and his journey through North Ame- 
rica, by the lakes, to the South Sea, in the 

year , says, "that the Indians informed 

him, that they had a tradition among them, 
that they originally came from another coun- 
try, inhabited by wdcked people, and had 
traversed a great lake, which was narrow 7 , 
shallow and full of islands, where they had 
suffered great hardships and much misery, 
it being always winter, with ice and deep 
snows — at a place they called the Copper- 
mine River, where they made the first land, 
the ground was covered with copper, over 
which a body of earth had since been col- 
lected to the depth of a man's heighth. 
They believe also that in ancient times their 
ancestors had lived till their feet were worn 
out with walking, and their throats with 
eating. They described a deluge, when 
the waters spread over the whole earth, ex- 
cept the highest mountain, on the top of 
which they were preserved. They also 
believe in a future judgment." M'Kenzie's 
history, page 113. 



176 



APPENDIX. 



The Indians to the eastward say, that pre- 
vious to the white people coming into the 
country, their ancestors were in the h^ibit of 
using circumcision, but latterly, not being 
able to assign any reason for so strange a 
practice, their young people insisted on its 
being abolished. 

M'Kenzie says the same of the Indians he 
saw on his route, even at this day. History, 
page 34. Speaking of the nations of the 
Slave and Dog-rib Indians, very far to the 
northwest, he says, " whether circumcision 
be practised among them, I cannot pretend 
to say, but the appearance of it was general 
among those I saw." 

The Dog-rib Indians live about two or 
three hundred miles from the straits of Kam- 
schatka. Dr. Beatty says, in his journal of 
a visit he paid to the Indians on the Ohio, 
about fifty years ago, that an old christian 
Indian informed him, that an old uncle of 
his, who died about the year 1728, related 
to him several customs and traditions of 
former times ; and among others, that cir- 
cumcision was practiced among the Indians 
long ago, but their young men making a mock 
of it, brought it into disrepute, and so it came 
to be disused. Journal, page 89. The 
same Indian said, that one tradition they had 
was, that once the waters had overflowed all 
tire laud, and drowned all the people then 



APPENDIX* 



177 



living, except a few, who made a great canoe, 
and were saved in it. Page 90. And that 
a long time ago, the people went to build a 
high place. That while they were building 
of it, they lost their language, and could not 
understand one another. That while one, 
perhaps, called for a stick, another brought 
him a stone, he. he. and from that time the 
Indians began to speak, different languages. 

Father Charlevoix, the French historian, 
informs us that tbe Hurons and Iroquois, in 
that early day, had a tradition among them 
that the first woman came from heaven, and 
had twins, and that the elder killed the 
younger. 

In an account published in the year 1644, 
by a Dutch minister of the gosple, in New- 
York, giving an account of the Mohawks, he 
says, " an old woman came to my house and 
told the family, that her forefathers had told 
her that the great spirit once went out walk- 
ing with his brother, and that a dispute arose 
between them, and the great spirit killed his 
brother." This is plainly a confusion of the 
story of Cain and Able. It is most likely 
from the ignorance of the minister in the 
idiom of the Indian language, misconstruing, 
Cain being represented a great man, for the 
great spirit* Many mistakes of this kind are 
frequently made. 

Mr* Adair s who has written the history of 



178 



APPENDIX, 



the Indians, and who deserves great credit 
for his industry, and improving the very- 
great and uncommon opportunities he en- 
joyed, tells us, that the southern Indians 
have a tradition, that when they left their 
own native land, they brought with them a 
sanctified rod, by order of an oracle, which 
they fixed every night in the ground; and 
were to remove from place to place on this 
continent,towards the rising sun,till it budded 
in one night's time. That they obeyed the 
sacred oracle, and the miracle at last took 
place, after they arrived on this side of the 
Mississippi, on the present land they possess. 
This was the sole cause of their settling 
there — of fighting so firmly for their reputed 
holy land and holy things — that they maybe 
buried with their beloved forefathers." 

This seems to be taken from Aaron's rod. 

Colonel James Smith, in his Journal of j 
Events, that happened while he was prisoner 
with the Caughnewaga Indians, from 1755 
to 1759, says, "they have a tradition that in 
the beginning of this continent, the angels or j 
heavenly inhabitants, as they call them, fre-j 
quently visited the people, and talked with I 
their forefathers, and gave directions how to 
pray, and how to appease the great being, 
when he was offended. They told them, 
they were to offer sacrifice, burn tobacco 1 
buffaloe and deer's bones, &c. he. Page 79, 



APPENDIX. 



179 



The Ottavvas say, "that there are two 
great beings that rule and govern the uni- 
verse, who are at war with each other ; the 
one they call Maneto, and the other Matche- 
maneto. They say that Maneto is all kind- 
ness and love, and the other is an evil spirit 
that delights in doing mischief. Some say 
that they are equal in power; others say 
that Maneto is the first great cause, and 
therefore must be all powerful and supreme, 
and ought to be adored and worshipped : 
whereas Matchemaneto ought to be rejected 
and despised." " Some of the Wyandots 
and Caughnewagas profess to be Roman 
Catholics ; but even these retain many of 
the notions of their ancestors. Those who 
reject the Roman Catholic religion, hold that 
there is one great first cause, whom they 
call Owaheeyo, that rules and governs the 
universe, and takes care of all his creatures 
rational and irrational, and gives them their 
food in due season, and hears the prayers of 
all those who call upon him ; therefore it is 
but just and reasonable to pray and offer 
sacrifice to this great being, and to do those 
things that are pleasing in his sight. But 
they widely differ in what is pleasing or dis- 
pleasing to this great being. Some hold that 
following nature or their own propensities 
is the way to happiness. Others reject this 
opinion altogether, and say, that following 



180 APPENDIX. 

their own propensities in this manner is 
neither the means of happiness, or the way 
to please the deity. My friend Tecaughre- 
tanego, said* our happiness depends on our 
using our reason, in order to suppress these 
evil dispositions; but when our propen- 
sities neither lead us to injure ourselves nor 
others, we may with safety indulge them, or 
even pursue them as the means of happi- 
ness." Page 86. 

Can any man, says Mr. Boudinot, read 
this short account of Indian traditions, drawn 
from tribes of various nations, from the west 
to the east, and from the south to the north* 
wholly separated from each other, written 
Iiy different authors of the best characters* 
both for knowledge and integrity, possesing 
the best means of information, at various 
and distant times, without any possible com- 
munication with each other, and in one in- 
stance from occular and sensible demonstra- 
tion; written on the spot in several instances, 
with the relaters before them— and yet sup- 
pose that all this is either the effect of 
chance, accident or design, from a love of 
the marvellous or a premeditated intention 
of deceiving, and thereby ruining their own 
well established reputations? 

Charlevoix was a clergyman of character* 
who was with the Indians some years, and 



APPENDIX. 



IS L 



travelled from Canada to the Mississippi in 
that early day. 

Adair lived forty years entirely domesti- 
cated with the southern Indians, and was a 
man of learning and great observation. Just 
before the revolutionary war he brought his 
manuscript to Eiizabethtown, in New Jersey, 
to William Livingston, Esq. (a neighbour of 
the writer) to have it examined and cor- 
rected, which was prevented by the troubles 
of a political nature, just breaking out. The 
Rev. Mr. Brainerd was a man of remarkable 
piety, and a missionary with the Crosweek 
Indians to his death. Dr. Edwards was 
eminent for his piety and learning, and was 
intimately acquainted with the Indians from 
his youth. Dr. Beatty was a clergyman of 
note and established character. Bartram 
was a man well known to the writer* and 
travelled the country of the southern Indians 
as a botanist, and was a man of considera- 
ble discernment, and had great means of 
knowledge ; and M'Kenzie, in the employ- 
ment of the northwest company, an old 
j trader, and the first adventurous explorer of 
the country, from the Lake of the Woods 
to the southern ocean. 

It is now ask'ed, continues Mr* Boudinot, 
can any one carefully and with deep reflec- 
tion consider and compare these traditions 
with the hi'itory of the ten tribes of Israel^ 
16 



1S2 



APPENDIX. 



and the late discoveries of the Russians, 
Capt. Cook and others, in and about the 
peninsula of Kamschatka and the northeast 
coast of Asia and the opposite shores of 
America, of which little was before known 
by any civilized nation, without at least 
drawing strong presumptive inferences, in 
favour of these wandering nations being de- 
scended from some oriental nation of the old 
world, and most probably, all things con- 
sidered, being the lost tribes of Israel. 

Let us look into the late discoveries, and 
compare them with the Indian traditions. 

Kamschatka is a large peninsula, on the 
north eastern part of Asia — It is a moun- 
tainous country, lying between fifty-one 
and sixty two degrees of north latitude, and 
of course a very cold and frozen climate. 
No grain can be raised there, though some 
vegetables ^tre. Skins and furs are there 
chief exports. The natives are wild as the 
country itself, and live on fish and sea ani- 
mals, with their rein-deer. The islands in 
this sea, which separate it from the north- 
west coast of America, are so numerous that 
the existence of an almost continued chain 
of them between the two continents is now 
rendered extremely probable. The principal 
of them are the Kurile Islands, those called 
Bherings and Copper Islands, the Aleutian 
Islands, and Fox Islands. Copper Island^ 



183 



which lies in fifty-four degrees north, and in 
full sight of Bhering's Island, has its name 
from the great quantities of copper with 
which the northeast coast of it abounds. Mr. 
Grieve' s history. It is washed up by the 
sea, and covers the shores in such abundance, 
that many ships might be loaded with it very 
easily. These Islands are subject to con- 
tinual earthquakes, and abound in sulpher. 
Alaska is one of the most eastwardly islands, 
and probably is not far from the American 
coast. The snow lies on these Islands till 
March, and the sea is filled with ice in win- 
ter. There is little or no wood growing in 
any part of the country, and the inhabitants 
live in holes dug in the earth. Their greatest 
delicacies are wild lily and other roots and 
berries, with fish and other sea animals. 
The distance between the most northeast- 
wardly part of Asia and the northwest coast 
of America, is determined by the famous 
navigator Capt. Cook, not to exceed thirty- 
nine miles. These straits are often filled 
with ice, even in summer, and frozen in 
winter, and by that means might become a 
safe passage for the most numerous host to 
pass over in safety, though these continents 
had never been once joined, or at a much 
less distance than at present. The sea from 
the south of Bhering's Straits to the islands, 
between the two continents, is very shallow. 



1S4 



APPENDIX* 



From the frequent volcanoes that are con* 
tinually happening, it is probable, not only 
that there has been a separation of the con- 
tinent at Bherings Straits, but that the whole 
space from the island to that small opening 
was once filled up with land ; but that it had 
by the force and fury of the waters, perhaps 
actuated by fire, been totally sunk and de- 
stroyed, and the islands left in its room. 
Neither is it improbable that the first passage 
of the sea was much smaller than at present, 
and that it is widening yearly, and perhaps 
many small islands that existed at the first 
separation of the continents, have sunk or 
otherwise have been destroyed. These 
changes are manifest in almost every 
country. 

Monsieur Le Page du Pratz, in his 2d 
vol. of his History of Louisiana^ page 120, 
informs us, that being exceedingly desirous 
to be informed of the origin of the Indian 
natives, made every inquiry in his power, 
especially of the nation of the Natchez, one 
of the most intelligent among them. All he 
could learn from them was, that they came 
from between the north and the sun setting — 
being no way satisfied with this, he sought 
for one who bore the character of one of 
their wisest men. He was happy enough to 
discover one named Moneachtape, among- 
the Yazons, a nation about forty leagues 



APPENDIX. 



185 



from the Natchez. This man was remarka- 
ble for his solid understanding and elevation 
of sentiment, and his name was given to him 
by his nation as expressive of the man — 
meaning " Tciller of pain and fatigue" His 
eager desire was to see the country from 
whence his forefathers came — he obtained 
directions and set off. He went up the Mis- 
souri, where he staid a long time, to learn 
the different languages of the nations he was 
to pass through. After long travelling he 
came to the nation of the Otters, and by 
them was directed on his way, till he reached 
the southern ocean. After being some time 
with the nations on the shores of the great 
sea, he proposed to proceed on his journey, 
and joined himself to some people who in- 
habited more westwardly on the coast. They 
travelled a great way between the north and 
the sun setting, when they arrived at the 
village of his fellow travellers, where he 
found the days long and the nights short. 
He was here advised to give over all thoughts 
of continuing his journey. They told him 
"that the land extended still a long way in 
the direction aforesaid, after which it ran 
directly west, and at length was cut by the 
great water from north to south. One of 
them added, that when he was young he 
knew a very old man, who had seen that 
distant land before it was eat away by the 
16* 



186 



APPENDIX. 



great water ; and when the great water was 
low, many rocks still appeared in those 
parts." Moneachtape took their advice, 
and returning home after an absence of five 
years. 

This account given to Du Pratz, in the 
year 1720, confirms the idea of the narrow 
passage at Kamschatka, and the probability 
that the continents once joined. 

It is remarkable that the people, especially 
the Kamschatkians, in their marches, never 
go but in Indian file, following one another 
in the same track. Some of the nations in 
this quarter, prick their flesh with small 
punctures with a needle in various shapes*, 
then rub into them charcoal, blue liquid or 
some other colour, so as to make the marks 
become indelible, after the manner of the 
more eastern nations. 

Bishop Lowth, in his notes on the 18th 
verse of the xlixth chapter of Isaiah, says, 
< { this is certainly an allusion to some prac- 
tice common among the Jews at that time, 
of making marks on their hands and arms by 
punctures on the skin, with some sort of 
sign or representation of the city or temple, 
to shew their affection and zeal for it. They 
had a method of making such punctures in- 
delible by fire or staining — and this art .is 
practised by travelling Jews all over the 



APPENDIX, 



1ST 



World at this day— vid. also his note on, 
chap. xlv. 5th verse. 

Thus it is with our northern Indians ; they 
always go in Indian file, and mark their flesh 
just as above represented. 

The writer of this has seen an aged 
christian Indian Sachem, of good character^ 
who sat for his portrait. On stripping his 
neck to the low T er part of his breast, it ap- 
peared that the whole was marked with a 
deep blueish colour in various figures, very 
discernable. On being asked the reason of 
it, he answered, with a heavy sigh, that it 
was one of the follies of his youth, when he 
was a great warrior, before his conversion 
to Christianity; and now, says he, I must 
bear it, as a punishment for my folly, and 
carry the marks of it to my grave. 

The people of Siberia made canoes of 
birch bark, distended over ribs of wood, 
nicely sewed together. The writer has 
seen this exactly imitated by the Indians on 
the river St. Lawrence, and it is universally 
the case on the lakes. Col. John Smith 
says, " at length we all embarked in a large 
birch bark canoe. This vessel was about 
four feet wide and three feet deep and about 
thirty-five feet long; aud though it could 
carry a heavy burden, it was so artfully and 
curiously constructed, that four men could 
carry it several miles, from one landing 



18S 



APPENDIX. 



place to another ; or from the waters of the 
lakes to the waters of the Ohio. At night 
they carry it on the land, and invert it, or 
turn it bottom up, and convert it into a 
dwelling house." 

It also appears from the history of Kara- 
schatka, written by James Grieve, that in 
the late discoveries, the islands which extend 
from the south point of Kamschatka, amount 
to thirty-one or thirty-two. That on these 
islands are high mountains, and many of 
them smoking volcanoes. That the pas- 
sages between them, except ?n one or two 
instances were but one or two days row, at 
the time of the author's writing that history. 
They are liable to terrible inundations and 
earthquakes. 

The following is collected from Mr. Stel- 
ler's journal, as recorded in the above his- 
tory; — "The main land of America lies 
parallel with the coast of Kamschatka, inso- 
much that it may reasonably be concluded 
that these lands once joined, especially at 
the Techukotskoi Noss, or Cape. He offers 
reasons to prove it: 1st. The appearance 
of both coasts, which appear to be torn 
asunder. 2d. Many capes project into the 
sea from thirty to sixty versts. 3d. Many 
islands are in the sea which divides Kam- 
schatka from America. 4th. The situation 
of the islands and the breadth of that sea* 



APPENDIX 



The sea is full of islands, which extend from 
the northwest point of America to the chan- 
nel of Anianova. One follows another, as 
the Keruloski islands do at Japan. The 
American coast at sixty degrees of north 
latitude is covered with wood; but at Kam- 
schatka, which is only fifty-one degrees, 
there is none for near fifty versts from the 
sea, and at sixty-two, not one tree is to be 
found. It is known also, that the fish enter 
the rivers on the American coast, earlier 
than they do in the rivers of Kamschatka* 
There are also raspberries, of a large size 
and fine taste, besides honey suckles, cran- 
berries and black-berries in great plenty. 
In the sea there are seals, sea-beavers, 
whales and dog-fish. In the country and in 
the rivers on the American coast, red and 
black foxes, swans, ducks, quails, plover, and 
ten kinds of birds not known in Europe* 
These particulars may help to answer the 
question, whence was America peopled ; for 
though we should grant that the two conti- 
nents never were joined, yet they lie so near 
to each other, that the possibility of the 
inhabitants of Asia going over to America, 
especially considering the number of the 
islands, and the coldness of the climate, 
cannot be denied. From Bhering's Island* 
on its high mountains, you can see mountains 
covered with snow, that appear to be capes^ 



190 APPEKDIX. 

of the main land of America. From all 
which it appears clearly, here was a proba- 
ble means of a people passing from Asia to 
America, either on the main land before a 
separation, or from island to island ; or on 
the ice after a separation, by which the con- 
tinent of America might have been peopled, 
by the tribes of Israel wandering north-east 
and directed by the unseen hand of Provi- 
dence, and thus they entered into a country 
wherein mankind never before dwelt. 

It is not presumed that the ten tribes of 
Israel alone did this. Many of the inhabi- 
tants might have gone with them from Tar- 
tary or Scythia; and particularly the old 
inhabitants of Damascus, who were carried 
away in the first place by Tiglah Pilnezer, 
before his conquest of the Israelites, and 
were their neighbours, and perhaps as much 
dissatisfied with their place of banishment, 
though for different reasons, as the Israelites, 
as well as from Kamschatka, on their way 
where they were stopped some time, as the 
Egyptions did with the Isrealites of old. 
And indeed it is not improbable, as has be- 
fore been hinted, that some few of other 
nations, who traded on the seas, might, in so 
long a course of time, have been driven by 
stress of weather, and reached the Atlantic 
shores at different places ; but the great body 
of people settling in North and South 



APPENDIX. 



191 



America, must have originated from the 
same source. 

Hence it would not be surprising to find 
among their descendants, a mixture of the 
Asiatic languages, manners, customs and 
peculiarities'. Nay, it would appear rather 
extraordinary and unaccountable if this was 
not so. And if we should find this to be the 
case, it would greatly corroborate the fact 
of their having passed into America from 
the north-east point of Asia, according to the 
Indian tradition. We, at the present day, 
can hardlv conceive of the facility with 
which these wandering northen nations re- 
moved from one part of the country to the 
other. The Tarters at this time, who pos- 
sess that northern country, live in tents or 
covered carts, and wander from place to 
place in search of pasture, kc. 

The general character, manners, habits, 
and customs of the Indians have been very 
Generally misrepresented. It is qu.te cer- 
tain, that at the time of the discovery of this 
continent by Columbus, it was peopled by 
some thousands of tribes, scattered from the 
coast opposite Kamschatka to Hudson's Bay. 
Their exact number has never been ascer- 
tained, and at this time it is impossible— 
generation after generation, and tribe after 
tribe have gone down to the grave, and 
of some great and powerful nations, there 



192 APPEKDIX. 

is not a solitary survivor left. It seems as if* 
the destroying angel had passed over the 
country, and that the numerous and happy 
natives had looked on him and died. Mr. 
Boudinot mentions one hundred and ninety 
different nations each having a Icing and 
sachem* 

" Du Pratz, in his History of Louisiana 
( vol. 108 — -123) gives an account of the 
single nation of the Padoucas, lying west by 
north-west of the Missouri, in 1724, which 
may give a faint idea of the numbers origi- 
nally inhabiting this vast continent. He says, 
" the nations of the Paduca's is very nume- 
rous, extends almost two hundred leagues, 
and they have villages quite close to the 
Spaniards of New Mexico." " They are not 
to be considered as a wandering nation, 
though employed in hunting, summer and 
winter — page 121. Seeing they have large 
villages, consisting of a great number of 
cabins, which contain very numerous fami- 
lies. These are permanent abodes; from 
which one hundred hunters set out at a time 
with their horses, their bows and a good 
stock of arrows." " The village where we 
were, consisting of one hundred and forty 
huts, containing about eight hundred war- 
riors, fifteen hundred women, and at least 
two thousand children, some Padoucas 
having four wives." — page 124* " The 



APPENDIX 



193 



natives of North-America derive their origin 
from the same country, since at bottom they 
all have the same manners and usages, as 
also the same manner of speaking and 
thinking/' 

" 31r. Jefferson late President of the 
United States, in his Xotes on Virginia, has 
also given much useful information to the 
world on several important subjects relating 
to America, and among others, as to the 
numbers of the Indians in that then dominion. 
Speaking of the Indian confederacy of the 
warriors, or rather nations, in that state and 
its neighbourhood, called " the Powhatan 
confederacy, " says, it contained in point of 
territory, as he supposes, of their patrimonial 
country " about three hundred miles in 
length, and one hundred in breadth. That 
there was about one inhabitant for every 
square mile, and the proportion ofwarriors 
to the whole number of inhabitants, was as 
three to ten, making the number of souls 
about thirty thousand/' 

" Some writers state the number of their 
warriors at the first coming of the Europeans 
to Virginia, to be fifteen thousand, and their 
population fifty thousand. La Houtan says 
that each village contained about fourteen 
thousand souls, that is, fifteen hundred that 
bore arms, two thousand superannuated men 
four thousand women, two thousand maids, 
17 



APPENDIX. 



and four thousand five hundred children. 
From all which, it is but a moderate esti- 
mate to suppose that there were six hundred 
thousand fighting men, or warriors, on this 
continent at its first discovery. 

" In 1677, Col. Coursey, an agent for Vir- 
ginia, had a conference with the Five Na- 
tions, at Albany. The number of warriors 
was estimated at that time in those nations 
at the following rate. Mohawks three hun- 
dred, Oneidas two hundred, Onondagoes 
three hundred and fifty, Cayugas three hun- 
dred, Senecas one thousand — total two 
thousand one hundred and fifty, which' 
makes the population about seven thousand 
two hundred. Vide Chalmer's Political 
Annals, 606. 

" Smith, in his History of New-York, says 
that in 1756, the number of fighting men 
were about twelve hundred. 

" Douglas, in his History of Massachu- 
setts, says that they were about fifteen hun- 
dred in 1760. 

" In 1764, Col. Boquet states the whole 
number of the inhabitants (he must mean 
fighting men) at fifteen hundred and fifty. 

" Captain Hutchins, in 1768, states them 
at two thousand one hundred and twenty, 
and Dodge, an Indian trader, in 1779, at 
sixteen hundred, in the third year of the 
American revolutionary war. Many reasons 



APPENDIX. 19i> 

may be assigned for the above differences- 
some may have staid at home for the de- 
fence of their towns— some might be absent 
treating on disputes with their neighbours, 
or sickness, he. he. ; 

'• During the above war, 1776 — 7, the 
British had in their service, according to the 
returns of their agent— Mohawks three hun- 
dred, Oneidas one hundred and fifty, Tus- 
cawras two hundred, Onondagoes three 
hutdred, Cayugas two hundred and thirty, 
Serecas four hundred— In the whole fifteen 
hundred and eighty. The Americans had 
about two hundred and twenty, making up 
eighteen hundred warriors, equal to about 
six thousand souls. 

"In 1783, Mr. Kirkland, missionary to 
the Oneidas, estimated the number of the 
"Seneca warriors at six hundred, and the 
total number of the Six Nations, at more 
than four thousand. ' 

" 1790, he made the whole number oi 
Indian inhabitants then remaining, including 
in addition, those who reside on Grand River, 
in Canada, and the Stockbridge and Brother- 
town indians, to be six thousand three hun- 
dred and thirty. 

In 1794, the Six Nations numbered seven 
thousand one hundred and forty-eight souls. 

But what are these to the Southern In- 
dians, and especially those of Mexico and 



^96 APPENDIX. 

Peru. I will give one example. Mons. he 
Page Du Pratz, in his History of Louisiana 
mitten about the year 1730, assures us. 
' that the nation of the Natchez, from whom 
the town of that name on the Mississippi is 
called, were the most powerful nation in 
North America — 2 vol. 146. Thev ex- 
tended from the river Manchas or Iberville, 
which is about fifty leagues from the sea, to 
the nver Wabash, which is about four hun- 
dred and sixty leagues from the sea, in d 
that they had five hundred Sachems in the 
nation." He further says, " that the Chat- 
lias or Flat-heads, near the river Pacha 
Ogulas, had twenty-five thousand warriors, 
but in which number, he supposes many 
were reckoned who had but a slight title to 
that name — Page 140. 

A distinguishing trait in the character of 
the aborigines, is that of unbounded hos- 
pitality. Mr. Bartram, w ho knew the Semi- 
nole Indians well, as he travelled stinting 
them considerably, says that they possess a 
vast territory, all East Florida.* and the 
greatest part of West Florida, which beino- 
naturally cut and divided into thousands of 
islets, knolls, and eminences, by the innume- 
rable rivers, lakes, swamps, Savannas and 
ponds, form so many secure retreats and 

r-JJ h<? f h ° f *t Indians f0 this and a'most any other 

portion of our somhren country is extinguished ' 



APPENDIX. 



197 



temporary dwelling places, that effectually 
guard them from any sudden invasion or 
attacks from their enemies. And being such 
a swampy, hammoky country, furnishes such 
a plenty and variety of supplies for the 
nourishment of every sort of animal, that I 
can venture to assert, that no part of the 
globe so abounds with wild game or crea- 
ures fit for the food of man. Thus they 
enjoy a superabundance of the necessities 
and conveniences of life with the security of 
person and property, the two great concerns 
of mankind. They seem to be free from 
want or desires. No cruel enemy to dread ; 
nothing to give them disquietude but the 
gradual encroachments of the white people, 
Thus contented and undisturbed, they ap- 
pear as blithe and free as the birds of the 
air, and like them as volatile and active, 
tuneful and vociferous. The visage, action 
and deportment of a Seminole, being the 
most striking picture of happiness in this 
life — joy, contentment, love and friendship 
without guile or affectation, seem inherent 
in them, or predominate in their vital prin- 
ciple, for it leaves them but .with the last 
breath of life. 

To exemplify their kindness to strangers, 
he says, " that having lost his way in tra- 
velling through their towns, he was at a 
stand how to proceed, when he observed an 
17* » 



198 



APPENDIX. 



Indian man at the door of his habitation* 
beckoning to him, to come to him. Bar- 
tram accordingly rode up to him. He cheer- 
fully welcomed him to his house, took care 
of his horse, and with the most graceful air 
of respect led him into an airy, cool apart- 
ment, where being seated on cabins, his 
women brought in a refreshing repast, with 
a pleasant cool liquor to drink — then pipes 
and tobacco. After an hour's conversation, 
and Mr. Bartram informing him of his busi- 
ness, and where he was bound, but having 
lost his way, he did not know how to go on. 
The Indian cheerfuly replied, that he was 
pleased that Mr. B. was come in their 
country, where he should meet with friend- 
ship and protection ; and that he would him- 
self lead him into the right path. He turned 
out to be the prince or chief of Whatoga* 
How long would an Indian have rode through 
our country, before he would have received 
such kindness from a common farmer, much 
less a chief magistrate of a country ? Mr. 
Bartram adds to the testimony of Father 
Charlevoix, in favour of their good charac- 
ters among themselves. He says they are 
just, honest, liberal and hospitable to 
strangers; considerate, loving and affec- 
tionate to their wives and relations ; fond of 
their children ; frugal and persevering ; 
charitable and forbearing. He was weeks 



APPE-NDIX. 199 

and month; among them in their towns, and 
never observed the least sign of contention 
or wrangling"; never saw an instance of an 
Indian beating his wife or even reproving 
her in anger." 

Col. John Smith says, "when we had 
plentv of preen corn and roasting ears, the 
hunters became lazy, and spent their time 
in singing and dancing. They appeared to 
be fulfilling the scriptures, beyond many of 
tho«e who profess to believe them, in that of 
taking no thought for to morrow, but in 
living in love, peace and friendship, without 
dilute- In this last respect they are an 
example to those who profess Christianity— 

page 29. . . 

« \; the Israelites were divided into 
tribes, and had a chief over them, and 
alwavs marched under ensigns of some ani- 
mal peculiar to each tribe, so the Indian 
nations are universallv divided into tribes, 
under a sachem or king, chosen by the peo- 
ple from the wisest and bravest among them. 
He ha; neither influence or distinction, but 
from his wisdom and prudence. He is as- 
sisted by a council of old, wise and benevo- 
lent men, as they call their priests and coun- 
sellors. Nothing is determined (of a public 
nature) but in this conncil, where every one 
has an equal voice. The chief or sachem 
sits in the middle, and the council on each 
hand, forming a semi-circle, as the high 



200 



APPENDIX. 



priest of the Jews did in the Sanhedrim 
of that nation." 

Mr. Penn, when he first arrived in Penn- 
sylvania, in the year 1683, and made a treaty 
with them, makes the following observations, 
in a letter he then wrote to his friends in 
England. Every king has his council, and 
that consists of all the old and wise men of 
his nation, which perhaps are two hundred 
people. Nothing of moment is undertaken, 
be it war, peace, selling of land, or traffic, 
without advising with them. 'Tis admirable 
to consider how powerful the chiefs are, and 
yet how they move by the breath of the 
people. I have had occasion to be in coun- 
cil with them upon treaties for land, and to 
adjust the terms of trade. Their order is 
thus, the king sits in the middle of an half 
moon, and hath his council, the old and wise 
on each hand. Behind them, at a little dis- 
tance sits the young fry, in the same figure. 
Having consulted and resolved their busi- 
ness, the king ordered one of them to speak 
to me. He came to me, and in the name of 
his king, saluted me. Then took me by the 
hand, and told me that he was ordered by 
his king to speak to me; and that now it 
was not he, but the king that spoke, because 
what he should say was the king's mind. 
During the time this person was speaking, 
not a man of them was observed to whisper 



APPENDIX, 201 

or smile. The old were grave — the young 
reverend in their deportment. They spoke 
little, but fervently and with eloquence, He 
will deserve the name of wise, who out-wits 
them in any treaty about a thing they under- 
stand. At every sentence they shout, and 
say amen, in their way." 

Mr. Smith, in his history of New-Jersey, 
confirms this general statement. " They 
are grave even to sadness, upon any com- 
mon, and more so upon serious occasions- — * 
observant of those in company, and respect- 
ful to the aged — of a temper cool and de- 
liberate — never in haste to speak, but wait, 
for a certainty, that the person who spake 
before them, had finished all he had to say. 
They seemed to hold European vivacity in 
contempt, because they found such as came 
among them, apt to interupt each other, 
and frequently speak altogether. Their 
behaviour in public councils was stricly 
decent and instructive. Every one, in his 
turn, according to rank of years or wisdom, 
or services to his country. Not a word, 
w r hisper, or murmer, was heard while any 
one spoke: no interruption to commend or 
condemn: the younger sort were totally 
silent. Those denominated kings, were 
sachems distinguished by their wisdom and 
good conduct. The respect paid them was 
voluntary, and not exacted or looked for* 



203 



APPENDIX. 



nor the omission regarded. The sachems 
directed in their councils, and had the chief 
disposition of their lands," — page 141, 144- 
Every nation of Indians have certain cus- 
toms, which they observe in their public 
transactions with other nations, and in their 
private affairs among themselves, which is 
scandalous for any one among them not to 
observe. And these always draw after them 
either public or private resentment, when 
ever they are broken. Although these cus- 
toms may, in their detail, differ in one nation, 
when compared with another ; yet it is easy 
to discern that they have all had one origin.. 
This is also apparent from every nation un- 
derstanding them. Mr. Golden says, " their 
great men, both sachems and captains, are 
generally poorer than the common people ; 
for they affectt ogive away,anddistributeall 
the presents or plunder they get in their 
treaties or in war, so as to leave nothing to 
themselves. There is not a man in the 
ministry of the Five Nations (of whom Mr. 
Golden was writing) who has gained his 
office otherwise than by merit. There is 
not the least salary, or any sort of profit, 
annexed to any office, to tempt the covetous 
or the sordid; but on the contrary, every 
unworthy action is unavoidably attended 
with the forfeiture of their commission ; for 
their authority is only the esteem of the 



APPENDIX, 



203 



people, and ceases the moment that esteem 
is lost. An old Mohawk sachem, in a poor 
blanket and a dirty shirt, may be seen issuing 
his orders, with as arbitrary an authority as 
£ Roman dictator. 

" As every nation, as before observed, has 
its peculiar standard or symbol, as an eagle, 
a bear, a wolf, or an otter, so has each tribe 
the like badge, from which it is denominated. 
When they encamp, on a march, they always 
cut the representation of their ensign or 
symbol, on the trees, by which it may be 
known who have been there. The sachem 
-of each tribe is a necessary party in all con- 
veyances and treaties, to which he affixes 
the mark of his tribe, as a corporation does 
that of the public seal, 

M If you go from nation to nation, you will 
not find one who does not lineally distinguish 
himself by his respective family. As the 
family or tribe of the eagle, panther, (which 
is their lion) tyger, bufialo, (their ox or bull,) 
and also the bear, deer, racoon, &c. &c. 
So among the Jews, was the lion of the tribe 
of Judah — Dan was known by a serpent — 
Issachar by an ass, and Benjamin by a wolf. 
But the Indians, as the Jews, pay no re- 
ligious respect for any of these animals, or 
for any other whatever. 

" They reckon time after the manner of 
the Hebrews. They divide the year into 



204 APPENDIX i 

spring, summer, autumn, or the falling of the 
leaf, and winter. Korah,is their word for 
winter with the Cherokee Indians, as it is 
with the Hebrews. They number the years 
by any of these four periods, for they hare 
no name for the year. And they subdivi* 
these, and count the year by lunar months* 
or moons, like the Israelites, who also 
counted by moons. They call the sun and 
moon by the same word, with the addition 
of day and night, as the day sun, or moon — ■ 
the night sun, or moon. They count the 
day by three sensible differences of the sun i 
like the Hebrews — as the sun coming out — 
mid-day, and the sun is dead, or sunset. 
Midnight is halfway between th&sun going 
in and coming out of the water — also by 
mid-night and cock-crowing. They begin 
their ecclesiastical year at the first appear- 
ance of the first new moon of the vernal 
equinox, according to the ecclesiastical year 
of Moses. They pay great regard *to the 
first appearance of every new moon. They 
name the various seasons of the year from 
the planting and ripening of fruits. The 
green eared moon is the most beloved or 
sacred, when the first fruits become sanc- 
tified, by being anually offered up ; and 
from this period they count their beloved or 
holy things. 

The greatest act of hostility towards a 



205 



Nation is to profane the graves of their dead, 
If one of their nation dies at a distance, they 
secure the body from birds and wild beasts J 
and when they " imagine the flesh is con- 
sumed, and the bones dried, they return to 
the place* bring them home, and inter them 
in a very solemn manner, The Hebrews^ 
in like manner, carefully buried their dead 
but on any accident, they gathered their 
bones, and laid then in the tombs of their 
forefathers. Thus Jacob " charged his sons, 
and said unto them, I am to be gathered 
unto my people, bury me with my fathers? 
in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the 
Hittite." This was in Canaan. " There 
they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; 
there they buried Isaac and Rebeckah his 
wife; and there I buried Leah." "And 
Joseph took an oath of the children of 
Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and 
ye shall carry my bones fron hence." "And 
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him."* 
"and the bones of Joseph, which the chil- 
dren of Israel brought up out of Egypt, 
buried they in Shechem," as above men- 
tioned. — Joshua xxiv. 32. The Jews buried 
near their cities, and sometimes opposite to 
their houses, implying a silent lesson ol 
friendship, and a caution to live well. They 



* Gen. xlik: 29, 31—1. -25— Exod. xiii.19. 
18 



206 



APPENDIX. 



buried families together ; but strangers apart 
by themselves. 

When an old Indian finds that it is proba- 
ble that he must die* he sends for his 
friends, and with them collects his children 
and family around him ; and then, with the 
greatest composure, he addresses them in 
the most affectionate manner, giving them 
his last council, and advising them to such 
conduct as he thinks for their best interests. 
So did the patriarchs of old, and the Indians 
seem to follow their steps, and with as much 
coolness as Jacob did to his children, when 
he was about to die. 

A very worthy clergyman, with whom the 
writer was well acquainted, and who had 
long preached to the Indians, informed him, 
that many years ago, having preached in the 
morning to a considerable number of them, 
in the recess between the morning and after- 
noon services, news was suddenly brought, 
that the son of an Indian woman, one of the 
congregation then present, had fallen into 
a mill-dam, and was drowned. Immediately 
the disconsolate mother retired to some 
distance in deep distress, and sat down on 
the ground. Her female friends soon fol- 
lowed her, and placed themselves in like 
manner around her, in a circle at a small 
distance. They continued a considerable 
time in profound and melancholy silence^ I. 



APPENDIX. 



207 



except now and then uttering a deep groan. 
All at once the mother putting her hand on 
her mouth, fell with her face flat on the 
ground, her hand continuing on her mouth* 
This was followed, in like manner, by all 
the rest, when all cried out with the most 
melancholy and dismal yellings and groan- 
ings. Thus they continued, with their hands 
on their mouths, and their mouths in the 
dust a considerable time. The men also 
retired to a distance from them, and went 
through the same ceremony, making the 
most dismal groanings and yellings* 

Need any reader be reminded of the 
Jewish customs on occasions of deep huml* 
liation, as in Job 21 and 5— Mark me and 
be astonished, and lay your hand on your 
mouth. 29 and 9— The princes refrained 
talking, and laid their hands on their mouths. 
49 and 4 — Behold ! I am vile, what shall I 
answer thee? I will lay my hand on my 
mouth. Micah 7 and 16— The nations shall 
see and be confounded; they shall lay their 
hands on their mouth. Lament. 3 and 7 — 
He putteth his mouth in the dust, if so be, 
there may be hope. Prov. 30 and 32 — If 
thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon 
thine mouth. 

The Choktaw Indians hire mourners to 
magnify the merit and loss of the dead, and 
if their tears do not flow, their shrill voices 



APEENDIX. 



will be heard to cry, which answers the 
solemn chorus much better. However, some j 
of them have the art of shedding tears abun- 
dantly. Jerem. ix. chap. 17, 19— Thus 
saith the Lord of Hosts, consider ye, and 
call for the mourning women, that they may 
come, and send for cunning women, that 
they may come for a voice of wailing is 
heard, &c. 

In Dobson's Encyclopedia, vol. 1. page 
557. will be found some striking testimony 
in favour of the strict and rigid morality of 
the Indians. To that account I refer the 
reader, who will find an interesting sketch, 
entitled to credibility, of the advice given by 
a father (an Indian) to an only son. As far 
back as tradition reaches, it appears to have 
been the practice among the Indians to 
instruct their young men and women in 
their system of morality. For this purpose, 
teachers were appointed to instruct them in 
it. Many of them however, after becoming I 
acquainted with the manners and customs 
of the whites, doubled its efficacy, and acted 
accordingly. The late venerated Boudinot, 
in one of his last literary productions, relates 
the following circumstances. 

A minister preaching to a congregation 
of christian Indians, west of the Delaware, 
observed a stranger Indian, listening with 



APPENDIX, 



209 



great attention. After the service, the min- 
ister inquired who he was? It appeared on 
inquiry, that he lived three hundred miles 
to the westward— that he had just arrived 
and gave this account of himself. " That 
hfs elder hrother living in his house, had 
been many days and nights in great perplex- 
ity, wishing to learn to know the great spirit, 
till at length he resolved to retire into the 
woods, supposing that he should succeed 
better in a state of separation from all man- 
kind. Having spent many weeks alone in 
great affliction, he thought he saw man of 
majestic appearance, who informed him that 
there were Indians living to the southeast, 
who were acquainted with the great spirit 
and the way to everlasting life; adding that 
he should go home and tell his people, what 
he had seen and heard. For this reason, as 
soon as he had heard his brother speak, he 
determined to travel in search of the people 
he had described, till he found them ; and 
since he had heard what had been said that 
day, the words had been welcome to his 
heart." 

A missionary made a journey to the bhaw- 
anese country, the most savage of the Indian 
nations. He stopped at the first village he 
came to, and lodged with one of the chief 
men. He informed the chief of his business, 
and opened some truths of the gospel to him 
18* 



APPENDIX. 



by means of an interpreter who accompani- 
ed him. The chief paid great attention, and 
after sometime told him. that he was con- 
vinced that the missionary's doctrines were 
true, pointing out the right road. That the 
Shav:ane$e had been long striving to find 
the way of life : but that he must own. with 
regret, that all their labour and researches 
had been in vain. That they, therefore, had 
lost all courage, not knowing what they 
should do further, to obtain happiness. 
The chief accompanied the missionary to 
the next village and persuaded him to lodge 
with a heathen teacher. 

The missionary then preached to him, and 
told him that he had brought him the words 
of eternal life. This the Indian said was 
what they wanted, and they would hear him 
with pleasure. After some days, the heathen 
teacher said, I have not been able to sleep 
all night, for I am continually meditating 
upon your words, and will now open to you 
my whole heart. I believe what you say is 
the truth. A year ago I became convinced, 
that we are altogether sinful creatures, and 
that none of our good works can save us ; 
but I did not know what to do to get relief 
I have therefore always comforted nay peo- 
ple, that some body would come and shew 
us the true way to happiness, for we are not 
in the right way. And even but the day be- 



211 



fore you came, I desired my people to have 
a little patience, and that some teacher would 
certainly come. Now ycu are come, and I 
verily believe that the great spirit has sent 
you to make known his word to us. 

Monsieur De Lapoterie. a French author, 
speaking of the Cherokees and other south- 
ern Indians, gives this account of them : 

These Indians look upon the end of life? 
to be living happily ; and for this purpose 
their whole customs are calculated to pre- 
vent avarice, which they think embitters life. 

Nothing is a more severe reflection among 
them than to say, that a man loves his own. 
To prevent the use and propagation of such 
a vice, upon the death of an Indian, they 
burn a-11 that belongs to the deceased, that 
there may be no temptation for the parent 
to hoard up a superfluity of arms or domes- 
tic conveniences for his children. They 
cultivate no more land than is necessary for 
their plentiful subsistance and hospitality to 
strangers. At the feast of expiation, they 
also burn all the fruits of the earth and grain 
left of the past years crops. 

Mr. Brainard informs us, that about one 
hundred and thirty miles from our settlements, 
he met with an Indian, who was said to be a 
devout and zealous reformer. He was dres- 
sed in a hideous and terrific manner. He 
had a house consecrated to religious purpo- 



212 



APPENDIX. 



ses. Mr. Brainard discoursed with him about 
Christianity, and some of the discourse he 
seemed to like, but some of it he wholly re- 
jected. He said that God had taught him 
his religion, and that he w r ould never turn 
from it ; but wanted to find some who w T ould 
heartily join him in it, for the Indians had 
grown very degenerate and corrupt. He 
said he had thoughts of leaving all his friends 
and travelling abroad in order to find some 
who would join with him, for he believed that 
the great spirit had good people some where, 
who felt as he did. He said that he had not 
always felt as he then did, but had formerly 
been like the rest of the Indians, until about 
four or five years before that time. Then he 
said, that his heart was very much distressed, 
so that he could not live among the Indians, 
but got away into the woods and lived for 
some months. At length he said the great 
spirit had comforted his heart and showed him 
what he should do ; and since that time he 
had known the great spirit and tried to 
serve him, and loved all men, be they who 
they may, so as he never did before. He 
treated Mr. Brainard with uncommon cour- 
tesy, and seemed to be hearty in it. 

The other Indians said, that he had oppo- 
sed their drinking strong liquor with all his 
power ; and if at any time he could not dis- 
suade them from it, he would leave them and 



APPENDIX. 



215 



go -crying into the woods. It was manifest 
that he had a set of religious notions of his 
own, that he had looked into for himself, and 
had not taken for granted upon bare tradi- 
tion ; and he relished or disrelished, whatever 
was spoken of a religious nature, according 
as it agreed or disagreed with his standard. 
He would sometimes say, now that I like, so 
the great spirit has taught me, he. Some of 
his sentiments seemed very just ; yet he utterly 
denied the existence of an evil spirit, and de- 
clared there was no such a being known 
among the Indians of old times, whose reli- 
gion he supposed he was attempting to revive. 
He also said that departed souls went south- 
ward, and that the difference between the 
good and bad was, that the former were ad- 
mitted into a beautiful town with spiritual 
walls, or walls agreeably to the nature of 
souls. The latter would forever hover round 
those walls, and in vain attempt to get in. 
He seemed to be sincere, honest and consci- 
entious in his own way, and according to his 
own religious notions, which was more than 
could be said of most other pagans Mr. Brai- 
nard had seen. He was considered and de- 
rided by the other Indians as a precise zealot, 
who made an unnecessary noise about religi- 
ous ^att^s, but in Mr Brainard's opinion, 
there was something m his temper and dis- 



114 APPENDIX; 

position that looked more like true religion, 
than any thing he had observed anions other 
heathen Indians. 



{{ Many shall come from the East and the West, and sit 
down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the kingdom of 
ti Crod^ when the children of the kingdom shall be thrust 

In da darke wood, no Indian nigh, 
Den me look heb'n, and send up cry 

Upon me knee so low — 
Pat God on high— in shinv place, 
See me in night wid tearyYace, 

Da priest did tell me so. 

God send his angel, take me care, 
He come himself and hear me pray'r, 

If inside heart do pray ; 
He see me now, he now me hear, 
He sa}^, poor Indian neber fear, 

Me wid you night and day. 

Den me lub God wid inside heart, 
He figh fo me, he take me part, 

He safe me life afore : 
God lub poo Indian in da wood, 
So me lub God, and dat be good, 

Me praise him two time more.. 



THE END, - a 

fi » 2-811$: It 1*38.8. 



